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Pericles  :      *'  How  !  a  king's  daughter  ? 
And  call'd  Marina  ?  " 

Pericles  Act  V  Scene  i 


Copyright,    1901 

By 

THE    UNIVERSITY    SOCIETY 


PERICLES,  PRINCE  OF  TYRE. 


Preface. 


LIBRARY 

A! 

1^0  f 


The  Early  Editions.  Pericles,  Prinee  of  Tyre,  was  first 
published,  in  quarto,  in  1609,  with  the  following  title- 
page  :— 

"  The  lateJ  And  much  admired  Play,  |  Called  |  Peri- 
icles,  Prince  |  of  Tyre.  |  With  the  true  Relation  of 
the  whole  Historic,  \  aduentures,  and  fortunes  of  the 
said  Prince :  |  As  also,  |  The  no  lesse  strange,  and  worthy 
accidents,  |  in  the  Birth  and  Life,  of  his  Daughter  \ 
MARIANA.  I  As  it  hath  been  diners  and  sundry  times 
acted  by  |  his  Maiesties  Seruants,  at  the  Globe  on  |  the 
Banckside.  |  By  William  Shakespeare.  |  Imprinted  at 
London  for  Henry  Gosson,  and  are  j  to  be  sold  at  the 
signe  of  the  Sunne  in  |  Paternoster  row,  &c.  |  1609.  |  "  * 

A  second  quarto  appeared  in  the  same  year ;  a  third  in 
161 1  ;  a  fourth  in  1619;  a  fifth  in  1630 ;   a  sixth  in  1635. 

These  quarto  editions  are  sufficient  evidence  for  the 
popularity  of  the  plav;  its  omission  from  the  First  and 
Second  Folios  is  all  the  more  significant :  it  was  reprinted, 
however,  from  the  Sixth  Quarto,  in  the  Folios  of  1664 
and  1685,  which  included  *'  seven  plays  never  before 
printed  in  Folio,"  viz. :  Pericles,  Prince  of  Tyre;  The 
London  Prodigal;  The  History  of  Thomas,  Lord  Croni- 
zvell;  Sir  John  Oldcastle,  Lord  Cohhani;  The  Puritan 
Widow;  A  Yorkshi-e  Tragedy;  The  Tragedy  of  Lo- 
crine. 

*  This  Quarto  and  'he  Second  have  been  reproduced  in  fac- 
simile in  Dr.  Furnivall'i  Quarto-Series. 

I 


Preface  PERICLES. 

The  Authenticity  of  the  Play.  In  dealing  with  the  au- 
thorship of  Pericles  two  facts  must  be  borne  in  mind : — 
(i.)  the  verdict  of  the  Editors  of  the  First  FoHo  in  reject- 
ing it  from  their  volume:  (ii.)  the  early  allusions  and 
early  traditions  which  associate  the  play  with  Shake- 
speare's  name;  thus,  in  1646,  S.  Shepherd  wrote: — 

"  ivitli  Sophocles  we  may 
Compare  great  Shakespeare:   Aristophanes 
Never  like  him  his  Fancy  could  display, 
Witness  the  Prince  of  Tyre,  his  Pericles^ 

The  writer  of  these  lines  must  have  been  voicing  the 
opinion  of  many  enthusiastic  spectators  of  "  the  much- 
admired  play  "  ;  J.  Tatham,  however,  uttered  the  views 
of  the  more  critical  faction,  when  in  1652  he  quoted  this 

censure : — 
* 

"  Shakespeare,  the  Plebeian  driller,  was 

Foundered  in's  Pericles-,  and  must  not  pass." 

"  Pericles  "  indeed  seems  to  have  become  almost  prover- 
bial for  a  bad  play  successful  in  hitting  the  tastes  of  the 
masses. 

"  And  if  it  prove  so  happy  as  to  please, 
We  'II  say  'tis  fortunate  like  Pericles  "  ; 

• 
so  wrote  Robert  Tailor,  in  the  Prologue  to  "  The  Hog 

hath  lost  his  Pearl.'' 

Ben  Jonson  in  his  Ode  "  Come  Jeaue  the  loathed  stage  " 
(1629-30),  singled  out  for  special  scorn 

"  some  mouldy  tale 
Like  Pericles  " ; 

while  Owen  Feltham  reminded  him  frankly  that  certain 
portions  of  his  own  "  New  Inn  " 

"  throw  a  stain 
Through  all  the  unlikely  plot,  and  do  displease 
As  deep  as  Pericles.'' 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Preface 

It  must  be  observed  that  there  is  no  reference  in  these  lat- 
ter quotations  to  Shakespeare's  alleged  authorship.  Sub- 
sequently, Dryden  accepted  the  play,  while  Pope  rejected 
it,  and  the  early  editors  down  to  the  time  of  JNIalone  fol- 
lowed his  example ;  since  the  time  of  Steevens  it  has 
been  included  in  the  Canon,  its  doubtful  character,  how- 
ever, being  generally  recognised*  "  I  must  acquit,"  wrote 
Steevens  in  opposition  to  IMalone's  views,  "  even  the  ir- 
regular and  lawless  Shakespeare  of  having  constructed 
the  fabric  of  the  drama,  though  he  has  certainly  bestowed 
some  decoration  on  its  parts.  Yet  even  this  decoration, 
like  embroidery  on  a  blanket,  only  serves  by  contrast  to 
expose  the  meanness  of  the  original  materials."  Happily 
modern  criticism  corroborates  the  judgment  of  the  First 
Editors,  condemns  a  great  part  of  Pericles  as  altogether 
un-Shakespearian,  and  relieves  the  Poet  of  all  the  offen- 
sive and  loathsome  scenes  of  "  the  mouldy  tale."  Shake- 
speare's hand  cannot  be  traced  in  the  first  two  Acts,  nor 
in  the  coarse  portions  of  Act  IV.,  viz.  Scenes  ii.,  v.,  and 
vi.,  his  work  is  "  the  strange  and  worthy  accidents  in  the 
Birth  and  Life  of  Marina,"  and  is  to  be  found  in  the  last 
three  acts  of  the  play.  Mr.  Fleay  has  extracted  the  prec- 
ious metal  from  the  alloy,  and  the  result  is  a  charming 
Shakespearian  Romance'^' — "  a  kind  of  prologue  "  to  the 
glorious  group  of  "  Romances  "  belonging  to  the  close  of 
his  literary  career  (z'ide  Prefaces  to  Cymbeline,  Tempest, 
IV inter's  Talc). 

Date  of  Composition.  The  date  inferred  from  the  con- 
nection of  the  "  Marina  portion  "  of  Pericles  with  the  last 
plays  of  Shakespeare  is  borne  out  by  external  evidence, 
as  well  as  by  more  minute  internal  considerations.  The 
title-page  of  the  first  edition,  the  reference  to  it  as  "  a  new 
play  "  in  a  metrical  pamphlet  entitled  Pimlyco  published 
in  1609,  the  publication  in  1608  of  a  novel  based  upon  it 
"  as  lately  represented,"  all  point  to  circa  1607-8  as  the 
date  of  Shakespeare's  part:    this  view  is  strongly  con- 

*  Published  by  the  Nciv  Shakespeare  Society,  1874. 


Preface  PERICLES, 

firmed  by  metrical  tests  which  make  it  contemporary  with 
"  Antony  and  Cleopatra." 

No  scholar  would  now  venture  to  support  Dryden's 
statement  in  his  Prologue  to  Davenant's  Circe,  1675  : — 

"Shakespeare's  own  Muse  her  Pericles  first  bore. 
The  Prince  of  Tyre  was  elder  than  the  Moor; 
'Tis  miracle  to  see  a  first  good  play ; 
All  Hawthorns  do  not  bloom  on  Christmas-day." 

George  Wilkins  and  Pericles.  It  is  possible  to  differ- 
entiate no  less  than  three  styles  in  the  play  of  Pericles. 
Shakespeare's  share  has  already  been  assigned  to  him :  in 
all  probability  Act  IV.  Sc.  v.  and  vi.  are  not  by  the  author 
of  the  first  two  Acts  and  the  short  line  chorus.  The  au- 
thor of  the  latter  portion  was  certainly  George  Wilkins, 
who  in  1608  brought  out  a  novel,  "  being  the  true  history 
of  the  play,  as  it  was  lately  presented  by  the  worthy  and 
ancient  poet,  John  Gower  "  ;  he  lays  claim  to  the  play  as 
'  poor  infant  of  his  brain,'  and  his  claim  is  justifiable  {vide 
Delius,  Preface  to  Pericles,  and  especially  Mr.  Fleay's 
valuable  essay  on  "  Pericles,''  read  before  the  Neiv  Shake- 
speare Society,  1874). 

The  third  author  may  have  been  W.  Rowley,  who  was 
joined  with  Wilkins  and  John  Day  in  writing  "  The  Trav- 
els of  the  three  English  Brothers,"  etc. ;  this  point  is,  how- 
ever, a  matter  of  conjecture,  and  the  evidence  is  not  alto- 
gether convincing. 

Sources  of  the  Plot.  The  direct  sources  of  Pericles 
were  Laurence  Twine's  Patterne  of  Pcrinefiil  Adventures, 
published  in  1576,  and  Gower's  collection  of  metrical  tales 
called  "  Confessio  Amantis  " ;  both  these  works  were 
consulted  for  the  famous  story  of  Apollonius  of  Tyre. 
Gower  was  indebted  for  his  tale  to  Godfrey  of  Viterbo's 
Pantheon,  a  Latin  work  of  the  12th  century  ;  Twine  prob- 
ably reprinted  an  earlier  i6th  century  version,  derived 
from  a  French  source.  The  story  was  among  the  most 
widespread  stories  of  the  Middle  Ages ;   its  original  was 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  .  Preface 

probablyin  Greek;  the  earliest  allusion  to  the  Latin  ver- 
sion belongs  to  the  middle  of  the  8th  century.  A  West- 
Saxon  translation  was  made  in  the  nth  century  {cp. 
Ward's  Catalogue  of  Romances  i)i  the  British  Museum; 
P.  Z.  Round's  Preface  to  Quarto  Facsimile;  Dunlop's 
History  of  Fiction;  Prof.  A.  H.  Smyth's  Shakespeare's 
Pericles  and  Apollonius  of  Tyre,  etc.). 

The  name  "  Pericles  "  in  place  of  ''  Apollonius  "  may 
have  been  derived  from  Sidney's  Arcadia. 

Duration  of  Action.  The  action  of  the  play  covers  a 
period  of  from  fifteen  to  sixteen  years,  of  which  fourteen 
days  are  represented  on  the  stage :  the  chief  intervals  are 
accounted  for  in  the  Choruses : — 

Day  I,  Act  I.  Sc.  i.  Interval  Day  2,  Act  I.  Sc.  ii., 
iii.  Interval.  Day  3,  Act  I.  Sc.  iv.  Interval,  2nd 
Chorus.  Day  4,  Act  II.  Sc.  i.  Day  5,  Act  II.  Sc.  ii.,  iii., 
iv.  Day  6,  Act  II.  Sc.  v.  Interval,  ^rd  Chorus.  Day 
7,  Act  III.  Sc.  i.  Day  8,  Act  III.  Sc.  ii.  Interval.  Day 
9,  Act  III.  Sc.  iii.,  iv.  Interval,  14  years,  4th  Chorus. 
Day  10,  Act  IV.  Sc.  i.  Interval.  Day  11,  Act  IV.  Sc.  ii., 
iii.  Interval,  5^/1  Chorus  (Act  IV.  Sc.  iv.).  Day  12, 
Act  IV.  Sc.  v.,  vi.  Interval,  6th  Chorus.  Day  13,  Act 
V.  Sc.  i.  Interval,  yth  Chorus  (Act  V.  Sc.  ii.).  Day  14, 
Act  V.  Sc.  m.Acp.  Daniel's  ''Time-Analysis  of  Shake- 
speare's Plays ''\. 


PERICLES, 


Critical  Comments. 
I. 

Argument. 

I.  Antiochus,  King  of  Antioch,  in  order  to  keep  his 
daughter  unmarried,  for  a  shameful  purpose,  subjects  to 
the  penalty  of  death  all  her  suitors  who  do  not  succeed  in 
solving  a  certain  riddle.  After  many  have  perished  in  the 
endeavour  to  win  the  beautiful  but  wicked  princess,  Peri- 
cles, Prince  of  Tyre,  expounds  the  riddle,  which  carries 
with  it  the  story  of  Antiochus's  sin.  To  prevent  the  di- 
vulging of  the  secret,  the  monarch  seeks  to  have  Pericles 
put  to  death.  The  latter  flees  to  his  own  kingdom,  and 
being  unable  to  make  head  against  Antiochus's  wrath, 
soon  continues  his  flight  into  other  lands.  He  touches  at 
Tarsus,  where  his  provisioned  ships  bring  relief  to  that 
famine-stricken  city. 

II.  Pericles  is  afterwards  driven  by  a  storm  on  the 
shore  of  Pentapolis,  and  suffers  a  shipwreck,  which  he 
alone  survives.  Hearing  that  Simonides,  the  king  of  the 
country,  is  giving  a  tournament  in  honour  of  his  daugh- 
ter Thaisa,  he  goes  to  the  court,  engages  in  the  exercises 
and  creates  so  favourable  an  impression  that  though  he 
is  poor  and  unknown,  the  princess  chooses  him  for  her 
husband,  and  the  king  ratifies  the  nuptials. 

III.  Several  months  later,  word  reaches  Pericles  that 
his  ancient  enemy  Antiochus  is  dead ;  also  that  his  pres- 
ence is  needed  to  maintain  his  crown  at  Tyre.  He  reveals 
his  identity  to  his  wife  and  royal  father-in-law,  and  em- 
barks with  Thaisa  for  his  own  countrv.     A  storm  arises. 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Comments 

and  in  the  height  of  its  fury  Thaisa  is  delivered  of  a 
daughter,  who  is  named  Marina  because  she  was  born 
at  sea.  The  mother  swoons  and  is  supposed  to  be  dead. 
The  sailors  insist  that  she  be  speedily  cast  into  the  sea  in 
accordance  with  their  superstition  that  this  alone  would 
allay  the  tempest.  She  is  therefore  placed  in  a  box  by 
her  grief-stricken  husband  and  consigned  to  the  deep. 
The  box  is  cast  ashore  at  Ephesus,  where  those  who  open 
it  find  the  lady  still  alive.  Upon  recovering  strength  she 
becomes  a  priestess  of  Diana.  Meanwhile  Pericles  en- 
trusts the  infant  Marina  to  Cleon,  the  governor  of  Tarsus 
and  his  wife,  to  be  reared  by  them,  and  then  the  Prince 
proceeds  on  his  way  to  Tyre. 

IV.  For  fourteen  years  Marina  lives  with  her  guard- 
ians at  Tarsus,  developing  into  a  maiden  whose  beauty 
and  accomplishments  overshadow  those  of  their  own 
daughter.  Cleon's  jealous  wife  endeavours  to  have 
Marina  murdered,  but  she  is  seized  by  pirates  and  con- 
veyed to  Mytilene.  Here  f.he  falls  into  evil  hands,  but 
succeeds  in  preserving  her  innocence.  In  the  meantime 
Pericles  visits  Tarsus  and  is  given  to  understand  that  his 
daughter  is  dead. 

V.  Overcome  with  sorrow  at  the  loss  of  both  wife  and 
daughter,  Pericles  sets  sail  again  for  Tyre,  but  is  driven 
before  the  winds  to  Mytilene,  where  Lysimachus.  the  gov- 
ernor, pays  him  a  visit  on  shipboard,  but  finds  him  unre- 
sponsive and  listless.  To  cheer  him,  the  governor  sends 
for  Marina,  who  had  become  noted  for  singing  and  dan- 
cing. She  is  recognized  bv  her  delighted  father  ;  and  the 
cup  of  his  happiness  is  filled  to  the  brim  when,  shortly 
afterwards,  while  on  a  pilgrimage  to  Diana's  shrine  at 
Ephesus,  he  is  reunited  to  his  long-lost  wife  Thaisa.  He 
gives  his  daughter's  hand  to  Lysimachus  ;  while  the  false 
Cleon  and  his  wife  perish  at  the  hands  of  incensed  citizens 
of  Tarsus. 

McSpadden  :  Shakespearian  Synopses, 


Comments  PERICLES. 

II. 
Marina. 

Marina,  in  Shakespeare's  hands,  is  a  ^s^lorified  being:, 
who  is  scarcely  grown  up  before  her  charm  and  rare 
qualities  rouse  envy  and  hatred.  We  first  see  her  strew- 
ing flowers  on  a  grave,  and  immediately  after  this  we 
listen  to  her  attempt  to  disarm  the  man  who  has  under- 
taken to  murder  her.  She  proves  herself  as  innocent  as 
the  Queen  Dagmar  of  the  ancient  ballad.  She  "  never 
spake  bad  word  nor  did  ill  turn  to  any  living  creature.'' 
She  never  killed  a  mouse  or  hurt  a  fly  ;  once  she  trod  upon 
a  worm  against  her  will  and  wept  for  it.  No  human  crea- 
ture could  be  cast  in  gentler  mould,  and  truth  and  nobility 
unite  with  this  mildness  to  shed,  as  it  were,  a  halo  round 
her. 

When,  after  rebuffing  and  rejecting  her,  Pericles  has 
gradually  softened  towards  Marina,  he  asks  her  where 
she  was  born  and  who  provided  the  rich  raiment  she  is 
wearing.  She  replies  that  if  she  were  to  tell  the  story 
of  her  life  none  would  believe  her,  and  she  prefers  to 
remain  silent.     Pericles  urges  her : — 

"  Prithee,  speak : 
Falseness  cannot  come  from  thee ;  for  thou  look'st 
Modest  as  Justice,  and  thoii  seem'st  a  palace 
For  the  crowned  Truth  to  dwell  in ;  I  will  believe  thee. 

Tell  thy  story ; 
If  thine  considered  prove  the  thousandth  part 
Of  my  endurance,  thou  art  a  man,  and  I 
Have  suffered  like  a  girl :  yet  thou  dost  look 
Like  Patience  gazing  on  kings'  graves,  and  smiHng 
Extremity  out  of  act." 

All  this  rich  imagery  brings  Marina  before  us  with  the 
nobility  of  character  which  is  so  fitly  expressed  in  her 
outward  seeming.  It  is  Pericles  himself  who  feels  like  a 
buried  prince,  and  it  is  he  who  has  need  of  her  patient 

8 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Comments 

sympathy,  that  the  violence  of  his  grief  may  be  softened 
by  her  smile.  It  is  all  very  dramatically  effective.  The 
old  Greek  tragedies  frequently  relied  on  these  scenes  of 
recovery  and  recognition,  and  they  never  failed  to  pro- 
duce their  effect.  The  dialogue  here  is  softly  subdued,  it 
is  no  painting  in  strong  burning  colours  that  we  are 
shown,  but  a  delicately  blended  pastel.  In  order  to  gain 
an  insight  into  Shakespeare's  humour  at  the  time  As  You 
Like  It  and  Twelfth  Night  were  written,  the  reader  was 
asked  to  think  of  a  day  on  which  he  felt  especially  well 
and  strong  and  sensible  that  all  his  bodily  organs  were 
in  a  healthy  condition — one  of  those  days  in  which  there  is 
a  festive  feeling  in  the  sunshine,  a  gentle  caress  in  the  air. 

To  enter  into  his  mood  in  a  similar  manner  now  you 
would  need  to  recall  some  day  of  convalescence,  when 
health  is  just  returning  after  a  long  and  severe  illness. 
You  are  still  so  weak  that  you  shrink  from  any  exertion, 
and,  though  no  longer  ill,  you  are  as  yet  far  from  being 
well ;  your  walk  is  unsteady,  and  the  grasp  of  your  hand 
is  weak.  But  the  senses  are  keener  than  usual,  and  in  lit- 
tle much  is  seen  ;  one  gleam  of  sunshine  in  the  room  has 
more  power  to  cheer  and  enliven  than  a  whole  landscape 
bathed  in  sunshine  at  another  time.  The  twitter  of  a  bird 
in  the  garden,  just  a  few  chirps,  has  more  meaning  than 
a  whole  chorus  of  nightingales  by  moonlight  at  other  mo- 
ments. A  single  pink  in  a  glass  gives  as  much  pleasure  as 
a  whole  conservatory  of  exotic  plants.  You  are  grateful 
for  a  trifle,  touched  by  friendliness,  and  easily  moved  tc 
admiration.  He  who  has  but  just  returned  to  life  has  an 
appreciative  spirit. 

As  Shakespeare,  with  the  greater  susceptibility  of 
genius,  was  more  keenly  alive  to  the  joyousness  of  youth, 
so  more  intensely  than  others  he  felt  the  quiet,  half-sad 
pleasures  of  convalescence. 

Wishing  to  accentuate  the  sublime  innocence  of  Ma- 
rina's nature,  he  submits  it  to  the  grimmest  test,  and  gives 
it  the  blackest  foil  one  could  well  imagine.  The  gently 
nurtured  girl  is  sold  by  pirates  to  a  brothel,  and  the  de- 

9 


Comments  PERICLES, 

lineation  of  the  inmates  of  the  house,  and  Marina's  bear- 
ing towards  them  and  their  customers,  occupies  the 
greater  part  of  the  fourth  act. 

As  we  have  already  said,  we  can  see  no  reason  wdiy 
Fleay  should  reject  these  scenes  as  non-Shakespearian. 
When  this  critic  (whose  reputation  has  suffered  by  his  ar- 
bitrariness and  inconsistency)  does  not  venture  to  ascribe 
them  to  Wilkins,  and  yet  will  not  admit  them  to  be  Shake- 
speare's, he  is  in  reality  pandering  to  the  narrow-minded- 
ness of  the  clergyman,  who  insists  that  any  art  which  is  to 
be  recognised  shall  only  be  allowed  to  overstep  the  bounds 
of  propriety  in  a  humorously  jocose  manner.  These 
scenes,  so  bluntly  true  to  nature  in  the  vile  picture  they  set 
before  us,  are  limned  in  just  that  Caravaggio  colouring 
which  distinguished  Shakespeare's  work  during  the  period 
which  is  now  about  to  close.  Marina's  utterances,  the 
best  he  has  put  into  her  mouth,  are  animated  by  a  sublim- 
ity which  recalls  Jesus'  answers  to  his  persecutors. 
Finally,  the  whole  personnel  is  exactly  that  of  Measure 
for  Measure,  w^hose  genuineness  no  one  has  ever  disputed. 
There  is  also  an  occasional  resemblance  of  situation.  Isa- 
bella, in  her  robes  of  spotless  purity,  offers  precisely  the 
same  contrast  to  the  world  of  pimps  and  panders  who  riot 
through  the  play  that  Marina  does  here  to  the  woman  of 
the  brothel  and  her  servants. 

Brandes  :  William  Shakespeare. 

III. 

Pericles. 

Not  alone  our  desires,  but  somewhat  also  of  our  experi- 
ence,  is  gratified  when  justice  that  is  poetic,  but  not  there- 
fore utterly  unreal,  is  fulfilled  in  the  fate  of  Pericles.  His 
original  difficulties  spring  from  his  suit  to  the  daughter  of 
Antiochus,  a  suit  unblessed  by  any  better  passion  than  de- 
ceptive beauty  stimulates,  and  the  politic  desire  to  furnish 
his  realm  with  an  heir.     His  error,  for  by  the  standard 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Comments 

of  Shakespeare's  moral  feeling  so  it  must  stand,  is  recog- 
nized soon,  but  not  so  as  to  evade  all  its  consequences; 
hence  his  exile  and  wanderings  and  vicissitudes  ;  prudence 
and  noble  sensibility,  and  patience  when  fortune  admits 
no  better,  help  and  preserve  him,  and  weariness  and  mel- 
ancholy are  roused  at  last  to  renewed  enjoyment  of  affec- 
tion and  prosperity. 

Lloyd:  Critical  Essays  on  the  Plays  of  Shakespeare. 

IV. 

Shakespeare's  Share  in  this  Drama. 

With  all  the  extraordinary  power  of  single  scenes,  the 
"Marina"  has  not,  as  it  stands,  any  more  than  the  Pericles 
story  as  a  whole,  the  dramatic  substance,  the  backbone, 
of  Shakespeare's  most  ''  romantic  "  plots.  It  is  like  The 
Winter's  Tale  divested  of  the  tragedy  of  Hermione.  The 
most  critical  moment  of  Marina's  career,  that  in  which  she 
turns  the  governor  of  Mytilene  from  his  evil  purpose,  can 
hardly  have  appealed  to  Shakespeare,  with  its  Spenserian 
breadth  and  simplicity,  as  proper  for  the  central  situation 
of  a  drama.  And  the  earlier  crisis,  in  which  Dionyza  plots 
her  death,  is  treated  with  a  marked  subordination  of  dra- 
matic to  epic  effect.  We  are  hardly  made  aware  of 
Dionyza's  jealousy,  when  we  find  her  putting  the  last 
touches  to  the  murderer's  instructions  : — 

Thy  oath  remember ;  thou  hast  sworn  to  do  't : 

'Tis  but  a  blow,  which  never  shall  be  known  (IV.  i.  i,  2). 

And  the  raptures  of  the  final  reunion  are  made  poign- 
ant by  no  mingling  of  remorse.  Blameless  sufferers  em- 
brace, but  no  Leontes,  no  Alonso,  no  lachimo,  Posthumus, 
or  Cymbeline  looks  on.  The  real  criminals  are  in  the  con- 
clusion simply  ignored.  Neither  the  vengeance  which 
Pericles  proposed  to  inflict,  nor  the  "  nobler  virtue  "  of 
pardon  which  his  later  counterparts  bestow,  gives  dra- 
matic significance  to  their  fate ;  but  they  fall  by  a  popular 

II 


Comments  PERICLES. 

uprising,  and  this  last  act  of  their  story  is  huddled  away 
in  an  Epilogue.  The  so-called  "  Marina  "  is  an  assem- 
blage of  striking  parallels  to  the  Romances,  but  is  not, 
as  a  whole,  a  parallel. 

And  a  great  part  even  of  the  "  Marina  "  itself  is  only 
intermittently  of  clear  Shakespearean  quality.  It  would 
be  rash  to  say  that  the  Mytilene-scenes  in  the  fourth  Act 
are  too  repulsive  for  him  to  have  written ;  certainly  the 
loathsome  figures  of  Boult  and  his  crew  are  drawn  with  a 
drastic  vigour  of  which  there  is  hardly  a  trace  in  the  first 
two  acts.  But  powerful  realism  of  this  kind  was  within 
the  compass  of  many  a  Jacobean  dramatist,  when  he  could 
draw  direct  from  the  low  life  of  daily  experience.  It  is 
where  his  common  experience  fails  him,  that  the  common 
dramatist  betrays  himself.  Certainly  such  phenomena  as 
the  conversion  of  Lysimachus  and  Boult  must  have  been 
as  startling  in  London  as  in  Ephesus ;  and  it  is  at  this 
point  that  the  writer  of  the  Mytilene-scenes  discloses  his 
psychological  ineptitude.  We  may  perhaps  recognize 
Shakespeare  in  Marina's  virginal  protest,  but  its  instan- 
taneous effect  upon  hardened  men  must  be  attributed  to  a 
hand  less  subtle  or  more  perfunctory  than  his.  Similarly, 
the  majority  of  the  ''  choruses  "  in  Acts  IV.  and  V.,  while 
differing  in  measure  and  in  style  from  those  of  I.  and  II., 
show  only  here  and  there  a  Shakespearean  touch.  The 
Gower  of  I.  and  II.  speaks  in  rude  octosyllabic  verse  like 
his  own,  sprinkled  with  antique  forms.  In  IV.  and  V.  he 
archaises  no  more  and  cultivates  the  five-foot  measure,  the 
ornate  phrase,  and  the  interwoven  rhymes  of  the  Eliza- 
bethan sonneteer.  And  the  opening  "  chorus  "  of  Act 
v.,  otherwise  clumsy  enough,  contains,  in  its  description 
of  Marina's  dainty  feminine  craft,  a  little  vignette  full  of 
Shakespearean  flavour. 

Herford  :  The  Eversley  Shakespeare. 

What  was  more  natural  than  that  young  Shakspeare, 
in  his  first  dramatic  attempts,  should  have  followed  the 
method  of  the  best  models  of  his  day,  and  worked  in  their 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Comments 

style?  In  the  present  case,  it  was  obviously  R.  Greene's 
style  that  he  imitated.  Like  all  the  plays  of  this  writer, 
Pericles  also  is  not  so  much  a  drama  as  a  dramatised  nar- 
rative ;  in  language,  composition,  and  characterisation,  it 
is  thoroughly  epic  in  colouring,  and  therefore,  generally 
speaking,  it  is  clogged  with  the  same  faults  as  are  met  with 
in  Greene.  And  yet  Shakspeare  surpasses,  and  doubtless 
even  in  his  original  form,  surpassed,  his  model  in  many 
respects.  The  characters,  although  wanting  in  roundness, 
and  more  sketches  than  fully-coloured  figures,  are  never- 
theless more  powerfully  delineated  and  reveal  more  of 
their  inner  life  than  those  of  Greene's  best  pieces.  The 
composition,  also,  although  externally  thoroughly  epic,  is 
nevertheless  internally  held  together  by  the  thread  of  one 
thought.  All  the  principal  parts  of  the  play  reflect,  either 
directly  or  indirectly  (by  contrast),  the  same  view  of  life 
as  spent  in  the  search  after,  and  in  the  acquisition,  the  lo^s 
and  the  recovery  of  its  highest  gift — pure,  genuine  love. 
The  fault  of  the  play  is  that  it  is  more  epic  than  dramatic, 
for  which  reason  the  action,  in  place  of  being  condensed, 
hangs  loosely  together  and  is  flat  and  diffuse.  Even  the 
language  and  versification,  in  so  far  as  their  original  col- 
ouring can  be  conjectured,  show,  I  think,  some  resem- 
blance to  R.  Greene's  style,  except  that  naturally,  in  this 
respect  also,  Greene  was  probably  as  much  surpassed  in 
his  own  style  by  the  superior  poetical  genius  of  Shak- 
speare, as  Marlowe  was  surpassed  by  Titus  Adronicns, 
which  was  composed  after  his  fashion.  But,  in  my  opin- 
ion, it  is  more  especially  the  comic  parts  (for  instance,  the 
scenes  among  the  fishermen,  and  between  Boult  and  his 
mistress,  etc.)  that  show  such  great  resemblance  to  pas- 
sages in  The  Comedy  of  Errors,  the  Two  Gentlemen  of 
Verona,  Henry  VI.  (Jack  Cade,  etc.),  and  Romeo  and 
Juliet  (the  disputes  of  the  servants),  that  not  only  do  they 
quite  eclipse  all  the  comic  parts  in  Greene's  dramas,  but 
must  necessarily  have  been  written  by  Shakspeare,  and 
moreover  by  Shakspeare  as  a  yotmg,  not  as  an  older  man. 
Ulrici  :  Shakspearc's  Dramatic  Art. 

13 


Comments  PERICLES. 

The  drama  as  a  whole  is  singularly  undramatic.  It  en- 
tirely lacks  unity  of  action,  and  the  prominent  figures  of 
the  opening  scenes  quickly  drop  out  of  the  play.  A  main 
part  of  the  story  is  briefly  told  in  rhymed  verse  by  the 
presenter,  Gower,  or  is  set  forth  in  dumb  show.  But 
Shakspere's  part  is  one  and  indivisible.  It  opens  on  ship- 
board with  a  tempest,  and  in  Shakspere's  later  play  of 
storm  and  wreck  he  has  not  attempted  to  rival  the  earlier 
treatment  of  the  subject.  "  No  poetry  of  shipwreck  and 
the  sea,"  a  living  poet  writes,  ''  has  ever  equalled  the  great 
scene  of  Pericles ;  no  such  note  of  music  was  ever  struck 
out  of  the  clash  and  contention  of  tempestuous  elements." 
Milton,  when  writing  Lyeidas  the  elegy  upon  his  drowned 
friend,  remembered  this  scene,  and  one  line  in  particular : 
*'  And  humming  water  must  o'erwhelm  thy  corpse."  To 
this  rage  of  storm  succeeds  the  hush  of  Cerimon's  studi- 
ous chamber,  in  which  the  wife  of  Pericles,  tossed  ashore 
by  the  waves,  wakens  wonderingly  from  her  trance  to  the 
sound  of  melancholy  music.  Cerimon,  who  is  master  of 
the  secrets  of  nature,  who  is  liberal  in  his  *'  learned  char- 
ity," who  held  it  ever 

"  Virtue  and  cunning  were  endowments  greater 
Than  nobleness  and  riches," 

is  like  a  first  study  for  Prospero.  In  the  fourth  act,  Ma- 
rina, so  named  from  her  birth  at  sea,  has  grown  to  the  age 
of  fourteen  years,  and  is,  as  it  were,  a  sister  of  Miranda 
and  Perdita  (note  in  each  case  the  significant  name). 
She,  like  Perdita,  is  a  child  lost  by  her  parents,  and,  like 
Perdita,  we  see  her  flower-like  with  her  flowers — only 
these  flowers  of  Marina  are  not  for  a  merrymaking,  but 
a  grave.  The  melancholy  of  Pericles  is  a  clear-obscure  of 
sadness,  not  a  gloom  of  cloudy  remorse  like  that  of  Leon- 
tes.  His  meeting  with  his  lost  ]\Iarina  is  like  an  anticipa- 
tion of  the  scene  in  which  Cymbeline  recovers  his  sons 
and  daughter. 

DowDEN ;  Shakspere  Primer. 

14 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Comments 

The  play  consists  of  verse  scenes,  prose  scenes,  and  the 
Gower  chorus.  Considering-  at  present  only  the  first  of 
these  three  parts,  we  shall  find  so  marked  a  difference  be- 
tween the  first  two,  and  last  three,  acts,  as  to  render  it  as- 
tonishing that  they  could  ever  have  been  supposed  to  be 
the  work  of  one  author. 

COMPARATIVE   TABLE. 

Acts  I.,  11.     Acts  III.,  IV.,  V. 

Total  No.  of  lines 835  827 

No.  of  rhyme  lines 195  14 

No.  of  double  endings 72  106 

No.  of  Alexandrines 5  13 

No.  of  short  lines 71  98 

No.  of  rhymes  not  dialogue 8  16 

The  differences  in  the  other  items  are  striking-,  and  of 
themselves  conclusive ;  but  the  difference  of  the  numbers 
of  rhymes,  the  proportion  being  14  in  the  one  part  to  i 
in  the  other,  is  such  as  the  most  careless  critic  ought  to 
have  long  since  noticed.  With  regard  to  this  main  ques- 
tion, then,  there  can  be  no  doubt :  the  three  last  acts  alone 
can  be  Shakespeare's;  the  other  part  is  by. some  one  of  a 
very  different  school.  But  we  have  minor  questions  of 
some  interest  to  settle.  The  first  of  these  is.  Who  wrote 
the  scenes  in  the  brothel,  x\ct  IV.  Sc.  ii.  v.  vi.  ?  I  say  de- 
cidedly, not  Shakespeare ;  for  these  reasons :  These 
scenes  are  totally  unlike  Shakespeare's  in  feeling  on  such 
matters.  He  would  not  have  indulged  in  the  morbid 
anatomy  of  such  loathsome  characters ;  he  would  have 
covered  the  ulcerous  sores  with  a  film  of  humour,  if  it 
were  a  necessary  part  of  his  moral  surgery  to  treat  them 
at  all ;  and,  above  all,  he  would  not  have  married  Marina 
to  a  man  whose  acquaintance  she  had  first  made  in  a  public 
brothel,  to  wdiich  his  motives  of  resort  were  not  recom- 
mendatory, however  involuntary  her  sojourn  there  may 
have  been.  A  still  stronger  argument  is  the  omission  of 
any  allusion  in  the  after-scenes  to  these  three.  In  one 
place,  indeed,  there  seems  to  be  a  contradiction  of  them. 

15 


Comments  PERICLES, 

The  after-account  of  Marina,  which  is  amply  sufficient 
without  the  prose  scenes  for  dramatic  purposes,  is  given 
thus : — 

"  We    haue   a    maid   in    Metiline     .     .     . 
She  -ccitli  Jicr  fcllozu  viaidcs  [is]  now  upon 
The  Icaiiie  sheker  that  abutts  against 
The  Islands  side." — Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

I  cannot  reconcile  this  with — 

"  Proclaim  that  I  can  sing,  weave,  sowe,  and  dance. 
And   [I]   will  undertake  all  these  to  teach." — Act  IV.  Sc.  vi. 

nor  with — 

"  Pupils  lacks  she  none  of  nobler  race, 
Who  pour  their  bounty  on  her :  and  her  gain 
She  gives  tlie  cursed  Bazud.'' — Act.  V.,  Goiver. 

But  if  these  scenes  are  not  Shakespeare's  (and  repeated 
examination  only  strengthens  my  conviction  that  they  are 
not),  the  clumsy  Gower  chorus  is  not  his  either.  And 
this  brings  us  to  tlie  only  hypothesis  that  explains  all  the 
difficulties  of  this  play.  The  usual  hypothesis  has  been 
that  Shakespeare  finished  a  play  begun  by  some  one  else : 
that  is,  that  he  deliberately  chose  a  story  of  incest,  wdiich, 
having  no  tragic  horror  in  it,  would  have  been  rejected  by 
Ford  or  Massinger,  and  grafted  on  to  this  a  filthy  story, 
which,  being  void  of  humour,  would  even  have  been  re- 
jected by  Fletcher.  This  arises  from  the  fallacy  which  I 
noted  in  a  previous  paper,  caused  by  the  inveterate  habit  of 
beginning  criticism  from  the  first  pages  of  a  book,  instead 
of  from  the  easiest  and  most  central  standpoint.  The 
theory  which  I  propose  as  certain  is  this :  Shakespeare 
wrote  the  story  of  iNIarina,  in  the  last  three  acts,  minus 
the  prose  scenes  and  the  Gower.  This  gives  a  perfect 
artistic  and  organic  whole,  and,  in  my  opinion,  ought  to 
be  printed  as  such  in  every  edition  of  Shakespeare :  the 
whole  play,  as  it  stands,  might  be  printed  in  collections  for 
the   curious,   and    there   only.     But   this    story   was    not 

i6 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Comments 

enough  for  filling  the  necessary  five  acts  from  which 
Shakespeare  never  deviated ;  he  therefore  left  it  un- 
finished, and  used  the  arrangement  of  much  of  the  latter 
part  in  the  end  of  Winters  Tale,  which  should  be  carefully 
compared  w^ith  this  play.  The  unfinished  play  was  put 
into  the  hands  of  another  of  the  "  poets  "  attached  to  the 
same  theatre,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  present  play  was 
the  result ;  this  poet  having  used  the  whole  story  as  given 
by  Gower  and  elsewhere. 

Fleay  :  Shakespeare  Manual. 

V. 

Construction. 

The  play  is  awkwardly  and  unskilfully  constructed,  be- 
ing on  the  plan  of  the  old  legendary  drama,  when  it  was 
thought  sufficient  to  put  some  popular  narrative  into  ac- 
tion, with  little  attempt  at  a  condensed  and  sustained  con- 
tinuous interest  in  the  plot  or  its  personages.  It  rambles 
along  through  the  period  of  two  generations,  without  any 
attempt  at  the  artist-like  management  of  a  similar  dura- 
tion in  The  Winter's  Tale,  by  breaking  up  the  story  into 
parts,  and  making  the  one  a  natural  sequel  to  the  other, 
so  as  to  keep  up  a  uniform  continuity  of  interest  through- 
out both.  The  story  itself  is  extravagant,  and  its  denoue- 
ment is  caused  by  the  aid  of  the  heathen  mythology,  which 
every  mind  trained  under  modern  associations  and  habits 
of  thought  feels  as  repugnant  to  dramatic  truth,  and  at 
once  refuses  to  lend  to  it  that  transient  conventional  belief 
so  necessary  to  any  degree  of  illusion  or  interest,  and  so 
readily  given  to  shadowy  superstitions  of  other  kinds,  as 
ghosts,  witches,  and  fairies,  more  akin  to  our  general  opin- 
ions, or  more  familiar  to  our  childhood.  A  still  greater 
defect  than  this  is  one  rare  indeed  in  anything  from  Shake- 
speare's mind — the  vagueness  and  meagreness  of  the  char- 
acters, undistinguished  by  any  of  that  portrait-like  indi- 
viduality which  gives  life  and  reality  to  the  humblest  per- 

17 


Comments  PERICLES. 

sonages  of  his  scene.  Thence,  in  spite  of  the  excellence  of 
particular  parts,  there  results  a  general  feebleness  of 
effect  in  the  whole.  The  versification  is,  in  geVieral,  sin- 
gularly halting  and  uncouth,  and  the  style  is  sometimes 
creeping  and  sometimes  extravagant. 

Yet,  on  the  other  hand,  it  contains  much  to  please,  to 
surprise,  to  affect,  and  to  delight.     The  introduction  of 
old  Gower,  linking  together  the  broken  action  by  his  an- 
tiquated legendary  narrative,  is  original  and  pleasing. 
Verplanck  :  The  Illustrated  Shakespeare. 


A  play  which  has  such  various  and  frequently  shifting 
scenes  as  Pericles  must  always  be  read  to  a  certain  degree 
of  disadvantage  beyond  the  fortune  of  others  of  less  diver- 
sified stage  accident.  These  changes  furnish  a  source  of 
fatigue  and  refreshment  to  the  spectator,  which  an  experi- 
enced dramatist  knows  how  to  manage  and  control,  and 
makes  the  most  of  by  corrections  which  are  lost  or  go 
counter  in  the  closet.  Even  a  reader  who  is  also  a  play- 
goer finds  much  difficulty  in  saving  these  effects,  and  they 
slip  from  others  entirely.  Taking,  however,  as  well  as 
one  may,  the  point  of  view  of  the  parterre,  I  confess  I  find 
much  to  admire  in  the  skill  with  which  the  play  of  Pericles 
is  constructed  and  put  together.  Whether  we  take  the 
outline  of  the  story  in  the  form  of  argument,  or  read  it  in 
the  verses  that  furnished  it  to  the  play-writer,  we  may  be 
honestly  struck  with  the  ingenuity  that  could  group,  divide 
and  connect  it  for  dramatic  purposes,  with  the  requisite 
clearness  and  facility  that  are  successfully  attained.  The 
story  rambles  dispersedly  in  various  countries  and  by  sea 
and  land,  and  the  incidents  are  of  every  degree  of  impor- 
tance and  insignificance ;  but  the  stages  of  the  story  as 
enacted  are  cleverly  made  to  correspond  with  the  relief  of 
the  divisions  of  the  acts.  Old  Gower  interposes  in  each 
case,  like  the  guard  and  sign  and  bound  of  the  compart- 
ment, and  his  narrative  both  bridges  intervals  and  renders 
them  defined,  while  the  dumb  show  that  he  interprets  is 
an  intermediate  term  of  the  narrated  and  the  enacted. 

i8 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Comments 

All  throng-h  the  piece  we  encounter  from  time 
to  time  reminiscences  of  other  Shakespearian  works — 
reminiscences,  or  it  may  be  anticipations,  but  I  think  most 
frequently  the  former. 

Lloyd:  Critical  Essays  on  the  Plays  of  Shakespeare. 


The  drama  before  us  contains  no  discrimination  of  man- 
ners (except  in  the  comic  dialogues),  very  few  traces  of 
original  thought,  and  is  evidently  destitute  of  that  intelli- 
gence and  useful  knowledge  that  pervade  even  the  mean- 
est of  Shakespeare's  undisputed  performances.  To  speak 
more  plainly,  it  is  neither  enriched  by  the  gems  that 
sparkle  through  the  rubbish  of  Love's  Labour 's  Lost,  nor 
the  good  sense  which  so  often  fertilizes  the  barren  fable  of 
the  Tzvo  Gentlemen  of  Verona.  .  .  .  That  the  plays 
of  Shakespeare  have  their  inequalities  likewise,  is  suffi- 
ciently understood ;  but  they  are  still  the  inequalities  of 
Shakespeare.  He  may  occasionally  be  absurd,  but  is  sel- 
dom foolish ;  he  may  be  censured,  but  can  rarely  be  de- 
spised. 

I  do  not  recollect  a  single  plot  of  Shakespeare's  forma- 
tion (or  even  adoption  from  preceding  plays  or  novels)  in 
which  the  majority  of  the  characters  are  not  so  well  con- 
nected, and  so  necessary  in  respect  of  each  other,  that  they 
proceed  in  combination  to  the  end  of  the  story ;  unless 
the  story  (as  in  the  cases  of  Antigonus  and  IMercutio)  re- 
quires the  interposition  of  death.  In  Pericles  this  con- 
tinuity is  wanting,  and  even  with  the  aid  of  Gower  the 
scenes  are  rather  loosely  tacked  together  than  closely  in- 
terwoven. Steevens. 


Respecting  the  dramatic  merits  of  Pericles  there  is  not 
much  to  be  said.  It  is  emphatically,  not  to  say  exclusively, 
a  play  of  incidents,  with  but  little  of  clear  and  pointed 
characterization.  It  has  indeed  a  goodly  number  of  su- 
perb strains  of  poetry ;  but  these  for  the  most  part  are 
introduced  in  such  a  way  as  to  render  it  evident  that  the 
germs  of  them  were  not  in  the  original  conception  of  the 

19 


Comments  . 

characters :   they  strike  us  rather  as  choice  pearls  held  to- 
gether  mechanically   by   a    string-,   than   as   the   organic 
adornings  of  nature,  growing  forth  from  an  innate  virtue, 
and  so  cohering  in  a  common  centre  or  principle  of  life. 
Hudson  :  The  Works  of  Shakespeare. 


However  wild  and  extravagant  the  fable  of  Pericles  may 
appear,  if  we  consider  its  numerous  choruses,  its  pagean- 
try, and  dumb  shows,  its  continual  succession  of  incidents, 
and  the  great  length  of  time  which  they  occupy,  yet  is  it. 
we  may  venture  to  assert,  the  most  spirited  and  pleasing 
specimen  of  the  nature  and  fabric  of  our  earliest  romantic 
drama  which  we  possess,  and  the  more  valuable,  as  it  is 
the  only  one  with  which  Shakspeare  has  favoured  us. 

Drake:  Shakspeare  and  his  Times. 


Hard  is  the  task.  In  this  discerning  age. 

To  find  new  subjects  that  will  bear  the  stage; 

And  bold  our  bards,  their  low  harsh  strains  to  bring 

Where  Avon's  swan  has  long  been  heard  to  sing; 

Blest  parent  of  our  scene !  whose  matchless  wit, 

Tho'  yearly  reap'd,  is  our  best  harvest  yet. 

Well  may  that  genius  every  heart  command, 

Who  drew  all  Nature  with  her  own  strong  hand ; 

As  various,  as  harmonious,  fair  and  great, 

With  the  same  vigour  and  immortal  heat ; 

As  thro'  each  element  and  form  she  shines : 

We  view  heav'n's  hand-maid  in  her  Shakespeare's  lines. 

Though  some  mean  scenes,  injurious  to  his  fame, 

Have  long  usurp'd  the  honour  of  his  name ; 

To  glean  and  clear  from  chaff  his  least  remains, 

Is  just  to  him,  and  richly  worth  our  pains, 

We  dare  not  charge  the  whole  unequal  play 

Of  Pericles  on  him ;  yet  let  us  say. 

As  gold  tho'  mix'd  with  baser  metal  shines, 

So  do  his  bright  inimitable  lines 

Throughout  those  rude  wild  scenes  distinguish'd  stand 

And  shew  he  touch'd  them  with  no  sparing  hand. 

G.  LiLLO :  Prologue  to  Marina.* 

*  An  adaptation  of  Pericles^  1738. 
20 


Pericles,  Prince  of  Tyre. 


DRAMATIS  PERSONAE. 

Antiochus,  king  of  Antioch. 
Pericles,  prince  of  Tyre. 
Helicanus,  ] 

xLSCANES,  ) 

SiMONiDES,  king  of  Pentapolis. 
Cleon,  governor  of  Tarsus. 
Lysimachus,  governor  of  Mytilene. 
Cerimon,  a  lord  of  Ephesus. 
Thaliard.  a  lord  of  Antioch. 
Philemon,  servant  to  Cerimon. 
Leonine,  servant  to  Dionyza. 
Marshal. 
A  Pandar. 
BouLT,  his  servant. 

The  Daughter  of  Antiochus. 
Dionyza,  wife  to  Cleon. 
Thaisa,  daughter  to  Sinionidcs. 
Marina,  daughter  to  Pericles  and  Thaisa. 
Lychorida,  nurse  to  Marina. 
A  Bawd. 

Lords,  Knights,  Gentlemen,  Sailors,   Pirates,  Fishermen, 
and  Messengers. 

Diana. 

Gower,  as  CJiorus. 

Scene:     Dispersedly  in  various  countries. 


Pericles,  Prince  of  Tyre. 

ACT  FIRST. 

Enter  Gozver. 

Before  the  palace  of  Antioch. 

To  sing  a  song  that  old  was  sung, 

From  ashes  ancient  Gower  is  come, 

Assuming  man's  infirmities, 

To  glad  your  ear  and  please  your  eyes. 

It  hath  been  sung  at  festivals, 

On  ember-eves  and  holy-ales ; 

And  lords  and  ladies  in  their  lives 

Have  read  it  for  restoratives: 

The  purchase  is  to  make  men  glorious; 

Et  bonum  quo  antiquius,  eo  melius.  lo 

If  you,  born  in  these  latter  times 

When  wit  's  more  ripe,  accept  my  rhymes, 

And  that  to  hear  an  old  man  sing 

May  to  your  wishes  pleasure  bring, 

I  life  would  wish,  and  that  I  might 

Waste  it  for  you  like  taper-light. 

This  Antioch  then  Antiochus  the  Great 

Built  up,  this  city,  for  his  chiefest  seat, 

The  fairest  in  all  Syria: 

I  tell  you  what  mine  authors  say :  20 

This  king  unto  him  took  a  fere, 

Who  died,  and  left  a  female  heir, 

23 


Act  I.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES, 

So  buxom,  blithe,  and  full  of  face 

As  heaven  had  lent  her  all  his  grace; 

With  whom  the  father  liking  took, 

And  her  to  incest  did  provoke: 

Bad  child,  worse  father!   to  entice  his  own 

To  evil  should  be  done  by  none : 

But  custom  what  they  did  begin 

Was  with  long  use  account  no  sin.  30 

The  beauty  of  this  sinful  dame 

Made  many  princes  thither  frame, 

To  seek  her  as  a  bed-fellow, 

In  marriage-pleasures  play-fellow: 

Which  to  prevent  he  made  a  law, 

To  keep  her  still  and  men  in  awe, 

That  whoso  ask'd  her  for  his  wife, 

His  riddle  told  not,  lost  his  life : 

So  for  her  many  a  wight  did  die. 

As  yon  grim  looks  do  testify.  40 

What  now  ensues,  to  the  judgement  of  your  eye 

I  give,  my  cause  who  best  can  justify.  [Exit. 

Scene  I. 

Antioch.     A  room  in  the  palace. 
Enter  Antiochus,  Prince  Pericles  and  folloiccrs. 

Ant.  Young  prince  of  Tyre,  you  have  at  large  received 
The  danger  of  the  task  yoii  undertake. 

Per.  I  have,  Antiochus,  and,  with  a  soul 

Embolden'd  with  the  glory  of  her  praise. 
Think  death  no  hazard  in  this  enterprise. 

Ant.  Bring  in  our  daughter,  clothed  like  a  bride, 
For  the  embracements  even  of  Jove  himself ; 

24 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  I.  Sc.  i. 

At  whose  conception,  till  Lucina  reign 'd, 
Nature  this  dowry  gave,  to  glad  her  presence. 
The  senate-house  of  planets  all  did  sit,  lo 

To  knit  in  her  their  best  perfections. 

Music.     Enter  Antiochus   Daughter. 

Per.  See  where  she  comes,  apparell'd  like  the  spring, 
Graces  lier  subjects,  and  her  thoughts  the  king 
Of  every  virtue  gives  renown  to  men ! 
Her  face  the  book  of  praises,  where  is  read 
Nothing  but  curious  pleasures,  as  from  thence 
Sorrow  were  ever  razed,  and  testy  wrath 
Could  never  be  her  mild  companion. 
You  gods  that  made  me  man  and  sway  in  love, 
That  have  inflamed  desire  in  my  breast  20 

To  taste  the  fruit  of  yon  celestial  tree 
Or  die  in  the  adventure,  be  my  helps, 
As  I  am  son  and  servant  to  your  will, 
To  compass  such  a  boundless  happiness! 

Ant.  Prince  Pericles, — 

Per.  That  would  be  son  to  great  Antiochus. 

Ant.  Before  thee  stands  this  fair  Hesperides, 

With  golden  fruit,  but  dangerous  to  be  touch' d ; 
For  death-like  dragons  here  affright  thee  hard : 
Her  face,  like  heaven,  enticeth  thee  to  view  30 

Her  countless  glory,  which  desert  must  gain; 
And  which,  without  desert,  because  thine  eye 
Presumes  to  reach,  all  thy  whole  heap  must  die. 
Yon  sometimes  famous  princes,  like  thyself, 
Draw^n  by  report,  adventurous  by  desire, 
Tell  thee,  with  speechless  tongues  and  semblance  pale. 
That  without  covering,  save  yon  field  of  stars, 

25 


Act  I.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES. 

Here  they  stand  martyrs,  slain  in  Cupid's  wars ; 

And  with  dead  cheeks  advise  thee  to  desist 

For  going  on  death's  net,  whom  none  resist.  40 

Per.  Antiochus,  I  thank  thee,  who  hath  taught 
My  frail  mortality  to  know  itself, 
And  by  those  fearful  objects  to  prepare 
This  body,  like  to  them,  to  what  I  must ; 
For  death  remember'd  should  be  like  a  mirror. 
Who  tells  us  life  's  but  breath,  to  trust  it  error. 
I  '11  make  my  will  then,  and,  as  sick  men  do, 
Who  know  the  world,  see  heaven,  but  feeling  woe 
Gripe  not  at  earthly  joys  as  erst  they  did, 
So  I  bequeath  a  happy  peace  to  you  50 

And  all  good  men,  as  every  prince  should  do; 
My  riches  to  the  earth  from  whence  they  came ; 
But  my  unspotted  fire  of  love  to  you.   [  To  the  Princess. 
Thus  ready  for  the  way  of  life  or  death, 
I  wait  the  sharpest  blow. 

Ant.  Scorning  advice:  read  the  conclusion  then: 
Which  read  and  not  expounded,  'tis  decreed, 
As  these  before  thee  thou  thyself  shalt  bleed. 

Daiigh.  Of  all  'say'd  yet,  mayst  thou  prove  prosperous! 
Of  all  'say'd  yet,  I  wish  thee  happiness!  60 

Per.  Like  a  bold  champion  I  assume  the  lists, 
Nor  ask  advice  of  any  other  thought 
But  faithfulness  and  courage. 

He  reads  the  riddle, 

'  I  am  no  viper,  yet  I  feed 
On  mother's  flesh  which  did  me  breed. 
I  sought  a  husband,  in  which  labour 
I  found  that  kindness  in  a  father: 
26 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  I.  Sc.  i. 

He  's  father,  son,  and  husband  mild; 
I  mother,  wife,  and  yet  his  child. 
How  they  may  be,  and  yet  in  two,  7^ 

As  you  will  live,  resolve  it  you.' 
[Aside]   Sharp  physic  is  the  last:  but,  O  you  powers 
That  give  heaven  countless  eyes  to  view  men's  acts, 
Why  cloud  they  not  their  sights  perpetually,  ^ 
If  this  be  true,  which  makes  me  pale  to  read  it? 
Fair  glass  of  light,  I  loved  you,  and  could  still, 
Were  not  this  glorious  casket  stored  with  ill : 
But  I  must  tell  you,  now  my  thoughts  revoH; 
For  he  's  no  man  on  whom  perfections  wait 
That,  knowing  sin  within,  will  touch  the  gate.        80 
You  are  a  fair  viol  and  your  sense  the  strings, 
Who,  finger'd  to  make  man  his^  lawful  music. 
Would  draw  heaven  down  and  all  the  gods,  to  hearken, 
But  being  play'd  upon  before  your  time, 
Hell  only  danceth  at  so  harsh  a  chime. 
Good  sooth,  I  care  not  for  you. 
Ant.  Prince  Pericles,  touch  not,  upon  thy  life, 
For  that 's  an  article  within  our  law, 
As  dangerous  as  the  rest.     Your  time  's  expired: 
Either  expound  now  or  receive  your  sentence.  90 

Per.  Great  king. 

Few  love  to  hear  the  sins  they  love  to  act; 
'Twould  braid  yourself  too  near  for  me  to  tell  it. 
Who  has  a  book  of  all  that  monarchs  do, 
He  's  more  secure  to  keep  it  shut  than  shown : 
For  vice  repeated  is  like  the  wandering  wind, 
Blows  dust  in  others'  eyes,  to  spread  itself; 
And  yet  the  end  of  all  is  bought  thus  dear, 
The  breath  is  gone,  and  the  sore  eyes  see  clear 
27 


Act  I.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES. 

To  stop  the  air  would  hurt  them.     The  bhnd  mole 

casts  lOO 

Copp'd   hills   towards   heaven,    to   tell   the   earth    is 

throng'd 
By  man's  oppression  ;  and  the  poor  worm  doth  die  for  't. 
Kings  are  earth's  gods ;  in  vice  their  law  's  their  will ; 
And  if  Jove  stray,  who  dares  say  Jove  doth  ill? 
It  is  enough  you  know;   and  it  is  fit. 
What  being  more  known  grows  worse,  to  smother  it. 
All  love  the  womb  that  their  first  being  bred. 
Then  give  my  tongue  like  leave  to  love  my  head. 

Ant.  [Aside]  Heaven,  that  I  had  thy  head!   He  has  found 
the  meaning: 
But  I  will  gloze  with  him. — Young  prince  of  Tyre, 
Though  by  the  tenour  of  our  strict  edict,  1 1 1 

Your  exposition  misinterpreting, 
We  might  proceed  to  cancel  of  your  days; 
Yet  hope,  succeeding  from  so  fair  a  tree 
As  your  fair  self,  doth  tune  us  otherwise : 
Forty  days  longer  we  do  respite  you ; 
If  by  which  time  our  secret  be  undone, 
This  mercy  shows  we  '11  joy  in  such  a  son: 
And  until  then  your  entertain  shall  be 
As  doth  befit  our  honour  and  your  worth.  120 

[Exeunt  all  but  Pericles. 

Per.  How  courtesy  would  seem  to  cover  sin. 
When  what  is  done  is  like  an  hypocrite, 
The  which  is  good  in  nothing  but  in  sight ! 
If  it  be  true  that  I  interpret  false. 
Then  were  it  certain  you  were  not  so  bad 
As  with  foul  incest  to  abuse  your  soul ; 
Where  now  you  're  both  a  father  and  a  son. 
By  your  untimely  claspings  with  your  child, 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  I.  Sc.  i. 

Which  pleasure  fits  a  husband,  not  a  father; 

And  she  an  eater  of  her  mother's  flesh,  130 

By  the  defiUng  of  her  parent's  bed; 

And  both  hke  serpents  are,  who  though  they  feed 

On  sweetest  flowers,  yet  they  poison  breed. 

Antioch,  farewell!   for  wisdom  sees,  those  men 

Blush  not  in  actions  blacker  than  the  night, 

Will  shun  no  course  to  keep  them  from  the  light. 

One  sin,  I  know,  another  doth  provoke; 

Murder  's  as  near  to  lust  as  flame  to  smoke: 

Poison  and  treason  are  the  hands  of  sin. 

Ay,  and  the  targets,  to  put  off  the  shame:  140 

Then,  lest  my  life  be  cropp'd  to  keep  you  clear. 

By  flight  I  '11  shun  the  danger  which  I  fear.      [Exit. 

Rc-cntcr  Antiochus. 
Ant.  He  hath  found  the  meaning,  for  the  which  we  mean 
To  have  his  head. 

He  must  not  live  to  trumpet  forth  my  infamy, 
Nor  tell  the  world  Antiochus  doth  sin 
In  such  a  loathed  manner: 
And  therefore  instantly  this  prince  must  die ; 
For  by  his  fall  my  honour  must  keep  high. 
Who  attends  us  there? 

Enter  Thaliard. 

Thai.  Doth  your  highness  call?  ^50 

Ant.  Thaliard, 

You  are  of  our  chamber,  and  our  mind  partakes 
Her  private  actions  to  your  secrecy: 
And  for  your  faithfulness  we  will  advance  you. 
Thaliard,  behold,  here  's  poison,  and  here  's  gold: 
29 


Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  PERICLES, 

We  hate  the  prince  of  Tyre,  and  thou  must  kill  him: 

It  fits  thee  not  to  ask  the  reason  why, 

Because  ,we  bid  it.     Say,  is  it  done? 
Thai.  My  lord, 

'Tis  done. 
Ant.  Enough.  i6o 

Enter  a  Messenger. 

Let  your  breath  cool  yourself,  telling  your  haste. 

Mess.  My  lord,  prince  Pericles  is  fled.  [Exit. 

Ant.  As  thou 

Wilt  live,  fly  after :   and  like  an  arrow  shot 
From  a  well  experienced  archer  hits  the  mark 
His  eye  doth  level  at,  so  thou  ne'er  return 
Unless  thou  say  '  Prince  Pericles  is  dead.' 

Thai.  My  lord. 

If  I  can  get  him  within  my  pistol's  length, 
I  '11  make  him  sure  enough :    so,   farewell  to  your 
highness.  169 

Ant.  Thahard,  adieu!  [Exit  Thai]  Till  Pericles  be  dead, 
My  heart  can  lend  no  succour  to  my  head.        [Exit. 

Scene  IL 

Tyre.     A  room  in  the  palace. 
Enter  Pericles. 

Per.    [To  Lords  without]    Let  none  disturb  us.     Why 

should  this  change  of  thoughts. 
The  sad  companion,  dull-eyed  melancholy, 
Be  my  so  used  a  guest  as  not  an  hour, 
In  the  day's  glorious  walk,  or  peaceful  night, 
The  tomb  where  grief  should  sleep,  can  breed  me 

quiet? 

30 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. 

Here  pleasures  court  mine  eyes,  and  mine  eyes  shun 

them, 
And  danger,  which  I  fear'd,  is  at  Antioch, 
Whose  arm  seems  far  too  short  to  hit  me  here: 
Yet  neither  pleasure's  art  can  joy  my  spirits, 
Nor  yet  the  other's  distance  comfort  me.  lo 

Then  it  is  thus:   the  passions  of  the  mind, 
That  have  their  first  conception  by  mis-dread, 
Have  after-nourishment  and  life  by  care ; 
And  what  was  first  but  fear  what  might  be  done, 
Grows  elder  now  and  cares  it  be  not  done. 
And  so  with  me :  the  great  Antiochus, 
'Gainst  whom  I  am  too  little  to  contend, 
Since  he  's  so  great  can  make  his  will  his  act, 
Will  think  me  speaking,  though  I  swear  to  silence ; 
Nor  boots  it  me  to  say  I  honour  him,  20 

If  he  suspect  I  may  dishonour  him : 
And  what  may  make  him  blush  in  being  known, 
He  '11  stop  the  course  by  which  it  might  be  known: 
With  hostile  forces  he  '11  o'erspread  the  land. 
And  with  the  ostent  of  war  will  look  so  huge. 
Amazement  shall  drive  courage  from  the  state, 
Our  men  be  vanquish'd  ere  they  do  resist. 
And  subjects  punish'd  that  ne'er  thought  offence: 
Which  care  of  them,  not  pity  of  myself, 
Who  am  no  more  but  as  the  tops  of  trees  30 

Which  fence  the  roots  they  grow  by  and  defend  them, 
Makes  both  my  body  pine  and  soul  to  languish, 
And  punish  that  before  that  he  would  punish. 

Enter  Hclicaniis,  tvith  other  Lords. 

First  Lord-  Joy  and  all  comfort  in  your  sacred  breast! 

31 


Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  PERICLES. 

Sec.  Lord.  And  keep  your  mind,  till  you  return  to  us, 
Peaceful  and  comfortable! 

Hcl.  Peace,  peace,  and  give  experience  tongue. 
They  do  abuse  the  king  that  flatter  him : 
For  flattery  is  the  bellows  blows  up  sin; 
The  thing  the  which  is  flatter'd,  but  a  spark,  40 

To  which  that  blast  gives  heat  and  stronger  glowing; 
Whereas  reproof,  obedient  and  in  order, 
Fits  kings,  as  they  are  men,  for  they  may  err. 
When  Signior  Sooth  here  does  proclaim  a  peace, 
He  flatters  you,  makes  war  upon  your  life. 
Prince,  pardon  me,  or  strike  me,  if  you  please; 
I  cannot  be  much  lower  than  my  knees. 

Per.  All  leave  us  else;  but  let  your  cares  o'erlook 
What  shipping  and  what  lading  's  in  our  haven. 
And  then  return  to  us.  [Exeunt  Lords.]  Helicanus, 
thou  50 

Hast  moved  us:  what  seest  thou  in  our  looks? 

Hel.  An  angry  brow,  dread  lord. 

Per.  If  there  be  such  a  dart  in  princes'  frowns. 

How  durst  thy  tongue  move  anger  to  our  face? 

Hel.  How^  dare  the  plants  look  up  to  heaven,  from  whence 
They  have  their  nourishment? 

Per.  Thou  know'st  I  have  power 

To  take  thy  life  from  thee. 

Hel.    [Kneeling]   I  have  ground  the  axe  myself ; 
Do  you  but  strike  the  blow. 

Per.  Rise,  prithee,  rise :  sit  down  :  thou  art  no  flatterer : 
I  thank  thee  for  it;   and  heaven  forbid  61 

That  kings  should  let  their  ears  hear  their  faults  hid ! 
Fit  counsellor  and  servant  for  a  prince, 
Who  by  thy  wisdom  makest  a  prince  thy  servant, 

22 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. 

What  wouldst  thou  have  me  do  ? 

Hcl.  To  bear  with  patience 

Such  griefs  as  you  yourself  do  lay  upon  yourself. 

Per.  Thou  speak'st  like  a  physician,  Helicanus, 
That  minister'st  a  potion  unto  me 
That  thou  wouldst  tremble  to  receive  thyself. 
Attend  me  then:    I  went  to  Antioch,  yo 

Where,  as  thou  know'st,  against  the  face  of  death, 
I  sought  the  purchase  of  a  glorious  beauty. 
From  whence  an  issue  I  might  propagate. 
Are  arms  to  princes  and  bring  joys  to  subjects. 
Her  face  was  to  mine  eye  beyond  all  wonder ; 
The  rest — hark  in  thine  ear — as  black  as  incest: 
Which  by  my  knowledge  found,  the  sinful  father 
Seem'd  not  to  strike,  but  smooth;  but  thou  know'st 

this, 
'Tis  time  to  fear  when  tyrants  seem  to  kiss. 
Which  fear  so  grew  in  me,  1  hither  fled,  80 

Under  the  covering  of  a  careful  night, 
Who  seem'd  my  good  protector;  and,  being  here, 
Bethought  me  what  was  past,  what  might  succeed. 
I  knew  him  tyrannous;   and  tyrants'  fears 
Decrease  not,  but  grow  faster  than  the  years : 
And  should  he  doubt  it,  as  no  doubt  he  doth, 
That  I  should  open  to  the  listening  air 
How  many  worthy  princes'  bloods  were  shed. 
To  keep  his  bed  of  blackness  unlaid  ope. 
To  lop  that  doubt,  he  '11  fill  this  land  with  arms,     90 
And  make  pretence  of  wrong  that  I  have  done  him ; 
When  all,  for  mine,  if  I  may  call  offence, 
Must  feel  war's  blow,  who  spares  not  innocence: 
Which  love  to  all,  of  which  thyself  art  one, 

3Z 


Act  I.  Sc.  n.  PERICLES, 

Who  now  reprovest  me  for  It, — 

Hcl  Alas,  sir! 

Per.  Drew  sleep  out  of  mine  eyes,  blood  from  my  cheeks. 
Musings  into  my  mind,  with  thousand  doubts 
How  I  might  stop  this  tempest  ere  it  came; 
And  finding  little  comfort  to  relieve  them, 
I  thought  it  princely  charity  to  grieve  them.  loo 

Hel.  Well,  my  lord,  since  you  have  given  me  leave  to  speak, 
Freely  will  I  speak.     Antiochus  you  fear. 
And  justly  too,  I  think,  you  fear  the  tyrant. 
Who  either  by  public  war  or  private  treason 
Will  take  away  your  life. 
Therefore,  my  lord,  go  travel  for  a  while, 
Till  that  his  rage  and  anger  be  forgot. 
Or  till  the  Destinies  do  cut  his  thread  of  life. 
Your  rule  direct  to  any;    if  to  me. 
Day  serves  not  light  more  faithful  than  I  '11  be.     i  lo 

Per.  I  do  not  doubt  thy  faith ; 

But  should  he  wrong  my  liberties  in  my  absence? 

Hcl.  We  '11  mingle  our  bloods  together  in  the  earth, 
From  whence  we  had  our  being  and  our  birth. 

Per.  Tyre,  I  now  look  from  thee  then,  and  to  Tarsus 
Intend  my  travel,  where  I  '11  hear  from  thee ; 
And  by  whose  letters  I  '11  dispose  myself. 
The  care  I  had  and  have  of  subjects'  good 
On  thee  I  lay,  whose  wisdom's  strength  can  bear  it. 
I  '11  take  thy  word  for  faith,  not  ask  thine  oath:   120 
Who  shuns  not  to  break  one  will  sure  crack  both : 
But  in  our  orbs  we  '11  live  so  round  and  safe. 
That  time  of  both  this  truth  shall  ne'er  convince, 
Thou  show'dst  a  subject's  shine,  I  a  true  prince. 

[Exeunt. 

34 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  I.  Sc.  iii. 

Scene  III. 

Tyre.     An  antc-chauihcr  in  the  palace. 

Enter  Thaliard. 

Thai.  So,  this  is  Tyre,  and  this  the  court.  Here 
must  I  kill  King  Pericles  ;  and  if  I  do  it  not,  I 
am  sure  to  be  hanged  at  home :  'tis  dangerous. 
Well,  I  perceive  he  was  a  .wise  fellow  and  had 
good  discretion,  that,  being  bid  to  ask  what  he 
would  of  the  king,  desired  he  might  know  none 
of  his  secrets :  now  I  do  see  he  had  some  reason 
for  't;  for  if  a  king  bid  a  man  be  a  villain,  he  's 
1)ound  by  the  indenture  of  his  oath  to  be  one. 
Hush!  here  come  the  lords  of  Tyre.  lo 

Enter  Helicanus  and  Escanes,  zi'ith  other  Lords. 

Hcl  You  shall  not  need,  my  fellow  peers  of  Tyre, 
Further  to  question  me  of  your  king's  departure : 
His  seal'd  commission  left  in  trust  with  me 
Doth  speak  sufiBciently  he  's  gone  to  travel. 

Thai.   [Aside'\   How !   the  king  gone ! 

Hel.  If  further  yet  you  will  be  satisfied. 

Why,  as  it  were  unlicensed  of  your  loves, 

He  would  depart,  I  '11  give  some  light  unto  you. 

Being  at  Antioch — 

Thai.    [Aside]   W^hat  from  Antioch? 

Hcl.  Royal  Antiochus — on  what  cause  I  know  not —     20 
Took  some  dipleasure  at  him;  at  least  he  judged  so: 
And  doubting  lest  that  he  had  err'd  or  sinn'd, 
To  show  his  sorrow,  he  'Id  correct  himself; 

35 


Act  I.  Sc.  iv.  PERICLES. 

So  puts  himself  unto  the  shipman's  toil, 

With  whom  each  minute  threatens  life  or  death. 

Thai.  [Aside]  Well,  I  perceive  I  shall  not  be  hanged 
now,  although  I  would ;  but  since  he  's  gone, 
the  king's  seas  must  please :  he  'scaped  the  land, 
to  perish  at  the  sea.  I  '11  present  myself.  Peace 
to  the  lords  of  Tyre! 

Hcl.  Lord  Thaliard  from  Antiochus  is  welcome.  30 

Thai.  From  him  I  come 

With  message  unto  princely  Pericles ; 
But  since  my  landing  T  have  understood 
Your  lord  has  betook  himself  to  unknown  travels, 
My  message  must  return  from  whence  it  came. 

Hcl.  We  have  no  reason  to  desire  it, 

Commended  to  our  master,  not  to  us: 
Yet,  ere  you  shall  depart,  this  we  desire, 
As  friends  to  Antioch,  we  may  feast  in  Tyre.  40 

YE  X  cunt. 

Scene  IV. 

Tarsus.     A  room  in  the  Governor's  house. 

Enter  Clcon  the  Governor  of  Tarsus,  with  Diony:;a 
and  others. 

etc.  My  Dionyza,  shall  we  rest  us  here, 
And  by  relating  tales  of  others'  griefs, 
See  if  'twill  teach  us  to  forget  our  own? 

Die.  That  were  to  blow  at  fire  in  hope  to  quench  it; 
For  who  digs  hills  because  they  do  aspire 
Throws  down  one  mountain  to  cast  up  a  higher. 
O  my  distressed  lord,  even  such  our  griefs  are; 
Here  they  're  but  felt,  and  seen  with  mischief's  eyes, 

36 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  I.  Sc.  iv. 

But  like  to  groves,  being  topp'd,  they  higher  rise. 

Clc.  O  Dionyza,  lo 

Who  wanteth  food,  and  will  not  say  he  wants  it, 
Or  can  conceal  his  hunger  till  he  famish? 
Our  tongues  and  sorrows  do  sound  deep 
Our  woes  into  the  air ;   our  eyes  do  weep, 
Till  tongues  fetch  breath  that  may  proclaim  them 

louder; 
That,  if  heaven  slumber  while  their  creatures  want, 
They  may  awake  their  helps  to  comfort  them. 
I  '11  then  discourse  our  woes,  felt  several  years, 
And  wanting  breath  to  speak  help  me  with  tears. 

Dio.  I  '11  do  my  best,  sir.  20 

Cle.  This  Tarsus,  o'er  which  I  have  the  government, 
A  city  "on  whom  plenty  held  full  hand. 
For  riches  strew'd  herself  even  in  the  streets; 
Whose  towers  bore  heads  so  high  they  kiss'd  the 

clouds. 
And  strangers  ne'er  beheld  but  wonder'd  at; 
Whose  men  and  dames  so  jetted  and  adorn'd, 
Like  one  another's  glass  to  trim  them  by : 
Their  tables  were  stored  full,  to  glad  the  sight, 
And  not  so  much  to  feed  on  as  delight ; 
All  poverty  was. scorn 'd,  and  pride  so  great,  30 

The  name  of  help  grew  odious  to  repeat. 

Dio.  O,  'tis  too  true. 

Cle.  But  see  w^hat  heaven  can  do !     By  this  our  change, 
These  mouths,  who  but  of  late  earth,  sea  and  air, 
Were  all  too  little  to  content  and  please, 
Although  they  gave  their  creatures  in  abundance. 
As  houses  are  defiled  for  want  of  use. 
They  arc  now  starved  for  want  of  exercise ; 

37 


Act  I.  Sc.  iv.  PERICLES, 

Those  palates  who,  not  yet  two  summers  younger, 
Must  have  inventions  to  delight  the  taste,  40 

Would  now  be  glad  of  bread,  and  beg  for  it : 
Those  mothers  who,  to  nousle  up  their  babes, 
Thought  nought  too  curious,  are  ready  now 
To  eat  those  little  darlings  whom  they  loved. 
So  sharp. are  hunger's  teeth,  that  man  and  wife 
Draw  lots  who  first  shall  die  to  lengthen  life : 
Here  stands  a  lord,  and  there  a  lady  weeping ; 
Here  many  sink,  yet  those  which  see  them  fall 
Have  scarce  strength  left  to  give  them  burial. 
Is  not  this  true  ?  50 

Dio.  Our  cheeks  and  hollow  eyes  do  witness  it. 

Cle.  O,  let  those  cities  that  of  plenty's  cup 
And  her  prosperities  so  largely  taste. 
With  their  superfluous  riots,  hear  these  tears ! 
The  misery  of  Tarsus  may  be  theirs. 

Enter  a  Lord. 

Lord.  Where  's  the  lord  governor  ? 
Cle.  Here. 

Speak  out  thy  sorrows  which  thou  bring'st  in  haste, 

For  comfort  is  too  far  for  us  to  expect. 
Lord.  We  have  descried,  upon  our  neighbouring  shore, 

A  portly  sail  of  ships  make  hitherward.  61 

Cle.  I  thought  as  much. 

One  sorrow  never  comes  but  brings  an  heir, 

That  may  succeed  as  his  inheritor; 

And  so  in  ours :   some  neighbouring  nation, 

Taking  advantage  of  our  misery. 

Hath  stuff'd  these  hollow  vessels  with  their  power, 

To  beat  us  down,  the  which  are  down  already, 

38 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  I.  Sc.  iv. 

And  make  a  conquest  of  unhappy  me, 

Whereas  no  glory  's  got  to  overcome.  70 

Lord.  That 's  the  least  fear ;   for,  by  the  semblance 

Of  their  white  flags  displayed,  they  bring  us  peace, 
And  come  to  us  as  favourers,  not  as  foes. 

Cle.  Thou  speak'st  like  him  's  untutor'd  to  repeat: 
Who  makes  the  fairest  show  means  most  deceit. 
But  bring  they  what  they  will  and  what  they  can, 
What  need  we  fear? 

The  ground  's  the  lowest,  and  we  are  half  way  there. 
Go  tell  their  general  we  attend  him  here, 
To  know^  for  what  he  comes  and  whence  he  comes 
And  what  he  craves.  81 

Lord.  I  go,  my  lord.  [Exit. 

Cle.  Welcome  is  peace,  if  he  on  peace  consist; 
If  wars,  we  are  unable  to  resist. 

Enter  Pericles  with  Attendants. 

Per.  Lord  governor,  for  so  we  hear  you  are, 
Let  not  our  ships  and  number  of  our  men 
Be  like  a  beacon  fired  to  amaze  your  eyes. 
We  have  heard  your  miseries  as  far  as  Tyre, 
And  seen  the  desolation  of  your  streets: 
Nor  come  we  to  add  sorrow  to  your  tears,  90 

But  to  relieve  them  of  their  heavy  load; 
And  these  our  ships,  you  happily  may  think 
Are  like  the  Trojan  horse  was  stuff 'd  within 
With  bloody  veins,  expecting  overthrow, 
Are  stored  with  corn  to  make  your  needy  bread, 
And  give  them  life  whom  hunger  starved  half  dead. 

All.  The  gods  of  Greece  protect  you ! 
And  we  '11  pray  for  you. 

39 


Act  II.  PERICLES, 

Per.  Arise,  I  pray  you,  rise: 

We  do  not  look  for  reverence,  but  for  love 
And  harbourage  for  ourself,  our  ships  and  men.      loo 

Clc.  The  which  when  any  shall  not  gratify. 

Or  pay  you  with  unthankfulness  in  thought, 
Be  it  our  wives,  our  children,  or  ourselves, 
The  curse  of  heaven  and  men  succeed  their  evils! 
Till  when, — the  which  I  hope  shall  ne'er  be  seen — 
Your  grace  is  welcome  to  our  town  and  us. 

Per.  Which  welcome  we'll  accept;   feast  here  awhile, 
Until  our  stars  that  frown  lend  us  a  smile.    {Exeunt. 

ACT  SECOND. 

Enter  Gower. 

Gow.  Here  have  you  seen  a  mighty  king 
His  child,  I  wis,  to  incest  bring; 
A  better  prince  and  benign  lord. 
That  will  prove  awful  both  in  deed  and  word. 
Be  quiet  then  as  men  should  be. 
Till  he  hath  pass'd  necessity. 
I  '11  show  you  those  in  troubles  reign, 
Losing  a  mite,  a  mountain  gain. 
The  good  in  conversation. 

To  whom  I  give  my  benison,  lO 

Is  still  at  Tarsus,  where  each  man 
Thinks  all  is  writ  he  speken  can; 
And,  to  remember  what  he  does, 
Build  his  statue  to  make  him  glorious: 
But  tidings  to  the  contrary 
Are  brought  your  eyes;  what  need  speak  I? 
40 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  II. 

Dumb  Show. 

Enter,  at  one  door,  Pericles,  talking  zvith  Clean;  all  the 
train  zvith  thcin.  Enter,  at  another  door,  a  Gentle- 
man, zvith  a  letter  to  Pericles;  Pericles  shows  the 
letter  to  Clean;  gives  the  Messenger  a  rezvard,  and 
knights  him.  Exit  Pericles  at  one  door,  and  Clean 
at  another. 

Good  Helicane,  that  stay'd  at  home, 

Not  to  eat  honey  Hke  a  drone 

From  others'  labours ;   for  though  he  strive 

To  killen  bad,  keep  good  ahve;  20 

And  to  fulfil  his  prince'  desire, 

Sends  word  of  all  that  haps  in  Tyre : 

How  Thaliard  came  full  bent  with  sin 

And  had  intent  to  murder  him ; 

And  that  in  Tarsus  was  not  best 

Longer  for  him  to  make  his  rest. 

He,  doing  so,  put  forth  to  seas, 

Where  when  men  been,  there  's  seldom  ease ; 

For  now  the  wind  begins  to  blow; 

Thunder  above  and  deeps  below  30 

Make  such  unquiet  that  the  ship 

Should  house  him  safe  is  wreck'd  and  split; 

And  he,  good  prince,  having  all  lost. 

By  waves  from  coast  to  coast  is  tost: 

All  perishen  of  man,  of  pelf, 

Ne  aught  escapen  but  himself; 

Till  fortune,  tired  with  doing  bad. 

Threw  him  ashore,  to  give  him  glad : 

And  here  he  comes.     What  shall  be  next. 

Pardon  old  Gower, — this  longs  the  text.       {Exit.     40 

41 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES, 

Scene  I. 

Pentapolis.     An  open  place  by  the  sea-side. 

Enter  Pericles,  zvet. 

Per.  Yet  cease  your  ire,  you  angry  stars  of  heaven! 
Wind,  rain,  and  thunder,  remember,  earthly  man 
Is  but  a  substance  that  must  yield  to  you; 
And  I,  as  fits  my  nature,  do  obey  you: 
Alas,  the  sea  hath  cast  me  on  the  rocks, 
Wash'd  me  from  shore  to  shore,  and  left  me  breath 
Nothing  to  think  on  but  ensuing  death: 
Let  it  suffice  the  greatness  of  your  powers 
To  have  bereft  a  prince  of  all  his  fortunes; 
And  having  thrown  him  from  your  watery  grave,     lo 
Here  to  have  death  in  peace  is  all  he  '11  crave. 

Enter  three  Fishermen. 

First  Fish.  \\'hat,  ho.  Pilch  ! 

Sec.  Fish.  Ha,  come  and  bring  away  the  nets ! 

First  Fish.  What,  Patchbreech,  I  say! 

Third  Fish.  What  say  you,  master? 

First  Fish.  Look  how  thou  stirrest  now !  come  away, 

or  I  '11  fetch  thee  with  a  wanion. 
Third  Fish.  Faith,  master,  I  am  thinking  of  the  poor 

men  that  were  cast  away  before  us  even  now. 
First  Fish.  Alas,  poor  souls,  it  grieved  my  heart  to     2C 

hear  what  pitiful  cries  they  made  to  us  to  help 

them,  when,  well-a-day,  we  could  scarce  help 

ourselves. 
Third  Fish.  Nay,  master,  said  not  I  as  much  when  I 

saw  the  porpus,  how  he  bounced  and  tumbled  ? 

they  say  they  're  half  fish,  half  flesh  :  a  plague  on 

42 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  II.  Sc.  i. 

them,  they  ne'er  come  but  I  look  to  be  washed. 
Master,  I  marvel  how  the  fishes  live  in  the  sea.     30 

First  Fish.  Why,  as  men  do  a-land ;  the  great  ones 
eat  up  the  little  ones :  I  can  compare  our  rich 
misers  to  nothing  so  fitly  as  to  a  whale ;  a'  plays 
and  tumbles,  driving  the  poor  fry  before  him, 
and  at  last  devours  them  all  at  a  mouthful :  such 
whales  have  I  heard  on  o'  the  land,  who  never 
leave  gaping  till  they  Ve  swallowed  the  whole 
parish,  church,  steeple,  bells,  and  all. 

Per.  [Aside]  A  pretty  moral. 

Third  Fish.  But,  master,  if  I  had  been  the  sexton,  I     40 
would  have  been  that  day  in  the  belfry. 

Sec.  Fish.  Wliy,  man? 

Third  Fish.  Because  he  should  have  swallowed  me 
too :  and  when  I  had  been  in  his  belly,  I  would 
have  kept  such  a  jangling  of  the  bells,  that  he 
should  never  have  left  till  he  cast  bells,  steeple, 
church,  and  parish,  up  again.  But  if  the  good 
King  Simon  ides  were  of  my  mind, — 

Per.    [Aside]    Simonides ! 

Third  Fish.  We  would  purge  the  land  of  these  drones,     50 
that  rob  the  bee  of  her  honey. 

Per.    [Aside]   How  from  the  finny  subject  of  the  sea 
These  fishers  tell  the  infirmities  of  men  ; 
And  from  their  watery  empire  recollect 
All  that  may  men  approve  or  men  detect ! — 
Peace  be  at  your  labour,  honest  fishermen. 

Sec,  Fish.  Honest !  good  fellow,  what  's  that  ?  If  it  be 
a  day  fits  you,  search  out  of  the  calendar,  and 
nobody  look  after  it. 

Per.  May  see  th^  sea  hath  cast  upon  your  coast.  60 

43 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES, 

Sec.  Fish.  What  a  drunken  knave  was  the  sea  to  cast 
thee  in  our  way ! 

Per.  A  man  whom  both  the  waters  and  the  wind, 
In  that  vast  tennis-court,  have  made  the  bah 
For  them  to  play  upon,  entreats  you  pity  liim ; 
He  asks  of  you,  that  never  used  to  beg. 

First  FisJi.  No, friend, cannot  you  beg?  Here  's  them 
in  our  country  of  Greece  gets  more  with  begging 
than  we  can  do  with  working. 

Sec.  FisJi.  Canst  thou  catch  any  fishes  then?  70 

Per.  I  never  practised  it. 

Sec.  Fish.  Nay,  then  thou  wilt  starve,  sure  ;  for  here  's 
nothing  to  be  got  now-a-days,  unless  thou  canst 
fish  for  't. 

Per.  What  I  have  been  I  have  forgot  to  know ; 
But  what  I  am,  want  teaches  me  to  think  on  : 
A  man  throng' d  up  with  cold :   my  veins  are  chill, 
And  have  no  more  of  life  than  may  sufiice 
To  give  my  tongue  that  heat  to  ask  your  help ; 
W^hich  if  you  shall  refuse,  when  I  am  dead,  80 

For  that  I  am  a  man,  pray  see  me  buried. 

First  Fish.  Diequoth-a?  Xow  gods  forbid 't !  And 
I  have  a  gown  here  ;  come,  put  it  on  ;  keep  thee 
warm.  Now,  afore  me,  a  handsome  fellow ! 
Come,  thou  shalt  go  home,  and  we  '11  have  flesh 
for  holidays,  fish  for  fasting-days,  and  moreo'er 
puddings  and  flap-jacks,  and  thou  shalt  be 
welcome. 

Per.  I  thank  you,  sir. 

Sec.  Fish.  Hark  you,  my  friend ;   you  said  you  could 

not  beg.  9^ 

Per.  I  did  but  crave. 

44 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  II.  Sc.  i. 

Sec.  Fish.  But  crave!  Then  I  '11  turn  craver  too,  and 
so  I  shall  'scape  whipping. 

Per.  Why,  are  all  your  beggars  whipped  then  ? 

Sec.  Fish.  O,  not  all,  my  friend,  not  all ;  for  if  all 
your  beggars  were  whipped,  I  would  wish  no 
better  office  than  to  be  beadle.  But,  master, 
I  '11  go  draw  up  the  net.  [Exit  zcifh  Third  Fisher  mar. 

Per.    {Aside^  How  well  this  honest  mirth  becomes  their 
labour ! 

First  Fish.  Hark  you,  sir,  do  you  know  where  ye  are?  loo 

Per.  Not  well. 

First  Fish.  Why,  I'll  tell  you  :  this  is  called  Pentapolis, 
and  our  king  the  good  Simonides. 

Per.  The  good  Simonides,  do  you  call  him? 

First  Fish.  Ay,  sir :  and  he  deserves  so  to  be  called 
for  his  peaceable  reign  and  good  government. 

Per.  He  is  a  happy  king,  since  he  gains  from  his 
subjects  the  name  of  good  by  his  government. 
How  far  is  his  court  distant  from  this  shore? 

First  Fish.  Marry,   sir,   half  a   day's   journey;    and   no 
I  '11  tell  you,  he  hath  a  fair  daughter,  and  to- 
morrow is  her  birthday ;    and  there  are  princes 
and  knights  come  from  all  parts  of  the  world  to 
just  and  tourney  for  her  love. 

Per.  Were  my  fortunes  equal  to  my  desires,  I  could 
wish  to  make  one  there. 

First  Fish.  O,  sir,  things  must  be  as  they  may ;  and 
what  a  man  cannot  get,  he  may  lawfully  deal 
for — his  wife's  soul. 

Re-enter  Second  and  Third  Fishermen,  drawing  up  a  net. 
Sec.  Fish.  Help,  master,  help  !  here  *s  a  fish  hangs  in   120 

45 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES. 

the  net,  like  a  poor  man's  right  in  the  law  ;   'twill 
hardly  come  out.     Ha !    bots  on  't,  'tis  come  at 
last,  and  'tis  turned  to  a  rusty  armour. 
Per.  An  armour,  friends  !     I  pray  you,  let  me  see  it. 
Thanks,  fortune,  yet,  that  after  all  thy  crosses 
Thou  givest  me  somewhat  to  repair  myself ; 
And  though  it  was  mine  own,  part  of  my  heritage, 
Which  my  dead  father  did  bequeath  to  me, 
With  this  strict  charge,  even  as  he  left  his  life, 

*  Keep  it,  my  Pericles  ;  it  hath  been  a  shield  130 
'Twixt  me  and  death  ' : — and  pointed  to  this  brace — 

*  For  that  it  saved  me,  keep  it ;    in  like  necessity — 
The  which  the  gods  protect  thee  from ! — may  defend 

thee.' 
It  kept  wli^re  I  kept,  I  so  dearly  loved  it : 
Till  the  rough  seas,  that  spare  not  any  man. 
Took  it  in  rage,  though  calm'd  have  given  't  again : 
I  thank  thee  for  't :    my  shipwreck  now  's  no  ill, 
Since  I  have  here  my  father's  gift  in  's  will. 

First  Fish.  What  mean  you,  sir ! 

Per.  To  beg  of  you,  kind  friends,  this  coat  of  worth,  140 
For  it  was  sometime  target  to  a  king ; 
I  know  it  by  this  mark.     He  loved  me  dearly. 
And  for  his  sake  I  wish  the  having  of  it ; 
And  that  you  'Id  guide  me  to  your  sovereign's  court, 
Where  with  it  1  may  appear  a  gentleman ; 
And  if  that  ever  my  low  fortune  's  better, 
I  '11  pay  your  bounties ;   till  then  rest  your  debtor. 

First  Fish.  Why,  wilt  thou  tourney  for  the  lady  ? 

Per.  I  '11  show  the  virtue  I  have  borne  in  arms. 

First  Fish.  AMiy,  do  'e  take  it,  and  the  gods  give  thee  150 
good  on  't ! 

46 


PRINCE  or  TYRE  Act  II.  Sc.  ii. 

Sec,  Fish.  Ay,  but  hark  you,  my  friend;  'twas  we 
that  made  up  this  garment  through  the  rough 
seams  of  the  waters :  there  are  certain  condole- 
ments,  certain  vails.  I  hope,  sir,  if  you  thrive, 
you  '11  remember  from  whence  you  had  them. 

Per.  Believe  't,  I  Vv'ill. 

By  your  furtherance  I  am  clothed  in  steel ; 

And  spite  of  all  the  rapture  of  the  sea 

This  jewel  holds  his  building  on  my  arm  :  i6o 

Unto  thy  value  I  will  mount  myself 

Upon  a  courser,  whose  delightful  steps 

Shall  make  the  gazer  joy  to  see  him  tread. 

Only,  my  friend,  I  yet  am  unprovided 

Of  a  pair  of  bases. 

Sec.  FisJi.  We  '11  sure  provide :  thou  shalt  have  my 
best  gown  to  make  thee  a  pair ;  and  I  '11  bring 
thee  to  the  court  myself. 

Per.  Then  honour  be  but  a  goal  to  my  will,  169 

This  day  I'll  rise,  or  else  add  ill  to  ill.  [Exeunt. 

Scene  II. 

The  same.  A  public  zvay  or  platform  leading  to  the  lists. 
A  pavilion  by  the  side  of  it  for  the  reception  of  the 
King,  Princess,  Lords,  etc. 

Enter  Simonides,  Thaisa,  Lords,  and  Attendants. 

Sim.  Are  the  knights  ready  to  begin  the  triumph  ? 

First  Lord.  They  are,  my  liege. 

And  stay  your  coming  to  present  themselves. 

Sim.  Return  them,  we  are  ready  ;  and  our  daughter, 
In  honour  of  whose  birth  these  triumphs  are, 
Sits  here,  like  beauty's  child,  whom  nature  gat 

47 


Act  II.  Sc.  ii.  PERICLES. 

For  men  to  see  and  seeing  wonder  at.    [Exit  a  Lord. 

Thai.  It  pleaseth  you,  my  royal  father,  to  express 
]\Iy  commendations  great,  whose  merit  's  less. 

Sim.  It  's  fit  it  should  be  so ;   for  princes  are  lo 

A  model  which  heaven  makes  like  to  itself : 
As  jewels  lose  their  glory  if  neglected, 
So  princes  their  renowns  if  not  respected. 
'Tis  now  your  honour,  daughter,  to  entertain 
The  labour  of  each  knight  in  his  device. 

Thai.  Which,  to  preserve  mine  honour,  I  '11  perform. 

Enter  a  Knight;  he  passes  over,  and  his  Squire  presents 
his  shield  to  the  Princess. 

Sim.  Who  is  the  first  that  doth  prefer  himself  ? 
Thai.  A  knight  of  Sparta,  my  renowned  father; 

And  the  device  he  bears  upon  his  shield 

Is  a  black  Ethiope  reaching  at  the  sun ;  20 

The  word,  '  Lux  tua  vita  mihi.' 
Sim.  He  loves  you  well  that  holds  his  life  of  you, 

[The  Seeond  Knight  passes. 

Who  is  the  second  that  presents  himself  ? 
Thai.  A  prince  of  Macedon,  my  royal  father  ; 

And  the  device  he  bears  upon  his  shield 

Is  an  arm'd  knight  that  's  conquer'd  by  a  lady ; 

The  motto  thus,  in  Spanish,  '  Piu  por  dulzura  que  por 
fuerza.'  [The  Third  Knight  passes. 

Sim.  And  what 's  the  third  ? 
Thai.  The  third  of  Antioch  ; 

And  his  device,  a  wreath  of  chivalry  ; 

The  word,  '  Me  pompse  provexit  apex.'  30 

[The  Fourth  Knight  passes. 
Sim.  What  is  the  fourth? 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  II.  Sc.  ii. 

Thai.  A  burning  torch  that  's  turned  upside  down ; 

The  word,  '  Quod  me  aht,  me  extinguit.' 
Sim.  Which  shows  that  beauty  hath  his  power  and  will, 

Which  can  as  well  inflame  as  it  can  kill. 

[The  Fifth  Knight  passes. 
Thai.  The  fifth,  an  hand  environed  with  clouds, 

Holding  out  gold  that 's  by  the  touchstone  tried ; 

The  motto  tluis,  '  Sic  spectanda  fides.' 

[The  Sixth  Knight,  Pericles,  passes. 
Sim.  And  what  's 

The  sixth  and  last,  the  which  the  knight  himself     40 

With  such  a  graceful  courtesy  deliver'd  ? 
Thai.  He  seems  to  be  a  stranger ;   but  his  present  is 

A  wither' d  branch,  that  's  only  green  at  top ; 

The  motto,  '  In  hac  spe  vivo.' 
Sim.  A  pretty  moral ; 

From  the  dejected  state  wherein  he  is, 

He  hopes  by  you  his  fortunes  yet  may  flourish. 
First  Lord.  He  had  need  mean  better  than  his  outward 
show 

Can  any  way  speak  in  his  just  commend ; 

For  by  his  rusty  outside  he  appears  50 

To  have  practised  more  the  whipstock  than  the  lance. 
Sec.  Lord.  Fie  well  may  be  a  stranger,  for  he  comes 

To  an  honour'd  triumph  strangely  furnished. 
Thiird  Lord.  And  on  set  purpose  let  his  armour  rust 

Until  this  day,  to  scour  it  in  the  dust. 
Sim.  Opinion  's  but  a  fool,  that  makes  us  scan 

The  outward  habit  by  the  inward  man. 

But  stay,  the  knights  are  coming :  we  will  withdraw 

Into  the  gallery.  [Exeunt. 

[Great  shouts  zcithin,  and  all  cry  '  The  mean  knight! ' 

49 


Act  II.Sc.  iii.  PERICLES, 

Scene  III. 

The  same.     A  hall  of  state:   a  banquet  prepared. 
Enter  Simonides,  TJiaisa,  Lords,  Knights,  and  Attendants. 

Sim.  Knights, 

To  say  you  're  welcome  were  superfluous. 
To  place  upon  the  volume  of  your  deeds, 
As  in  a  title-page,  your  worth  in  arms, 
Were  more  than  you  expect,  or  more  than  's  fit, 
Since  every  worth  in  show  commends  itself. 
Prepare  for  mirth,  for  mirth  becomes  a  feast : 
You  are  princes  and  my  guests. 

Thai.  But  you,  my  knight  and  guest ; 

To  whom  this  wreath  of  victory  I  give,  lo 

And  crown  you  king  of  this  day's  happiness. 

Per.  'Tis  more  by  fortune,  lady,  than  my  merit. 

Sim.  Call  it  by  what  you  will,  the  day  is  yours ; 
And  here,  I  hope,  is  none  that  envies  it. 
In  framing  an  artist,  art  hath  thus  decreed, 
To  make  some  good,  but  others  to  exceed ; 
And  you  are  her  labour'd  scholar.     Come,  queen  o* 

the  feast, — 
For,  daughter,  so  you  are, — here  take  your  place : 
Marshal  the  rest  as  they  deserve  their  grace. 

Knights.  We  are  honour'd  much  by  good  Simonides.     20 

Sim.  Your  presence  glads  our  days :   honour  we  love ; 
For  who  hates  honour  hates  the  gods  above. 

Marshal.  Sir,  yonder  is  your  place. 

Per.  Some  other  is  more  fit. 

First  Knight.  Contend  not,  sir;    for  we  are  gentlemen 
That  neither  in  our  hearts  nor  outward  eyes 
Envy  the  great  nor  do  the  low  despise. 

so 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  II.  Sc.  iii. 

Per.  You  are  right  courteous  knights. 

Sim.  Sit.  sir,  sit. 

[Aside\  By  Jove,  I  wonder,  that  is  king  of  thoughts, 
These  cates  resist  me,  he  not  thought  upon. 

Thai.  [Aside]  By  Juno,  that  is  queen  of  marriage,         30 
All  viands  that  I  eat  do  seem  unsavoury, 
Wishing  him  my  meat. — Sure  he  's  a  gallant  gentle- 
man. 

Sim.  He  's  but  a  country  gentleman ; 

Has  done  no  more  than  other  knights  have  done ; 
Has  broken  a  stafif  or  so  ;  so  let  it  pass. 

Thai.    [Aside]   To  me  he  seems  like  diamond  to  glass. 

Per.  [Aside]  Yon  king  's  to  me  like  to  my  father's  picture. 
Which  tells  me  in  that  glory  once  he  was ; 
Had  princes  sit,  like  stars,  about  his  throne, 
And  he  the  sun,  for  them  to  reverence ;  40 

None  that  beheld  him  but,  like  lesser  lights, 
Did  vail  their  crowns  to  his  supremacy : 
Where  now  his  son  's  like  a  glow-worm  in  the  night, 
The  which  hath  fire  in  darkness,  none  in  light : 
Whereby  I  see  that  Time  's  the  king  of  men  ; 
He  's  both  their  parent,  and  he  is  their  grave. 
And  gives  them  what  he  will,  not  what  they  crave. 

Sim.  What,  are  you  merry,  knights? 

Knights.  Who  can  be  other  in  this  royal  presence? 

Sim.  Here,  wnth  a  cup  that 's  stored  unto  the  brim, —  50 
As  you  do  love,  fill  to  your  mistress'  lips, — 
We  drink  this  health  to  you. 

Knights.  We  thank  your  grace 

Sim.  Yet  pause  awhile  : 

Yon  knight  doth  sit  too  melancholy. 
As  if  the  entertainment  in  our  court 

51 


Act  II.  Sc.  iii  PERICLES. 

Had  not  a  show  might  countervail  his  worth. 
Note  it  not  you,  Thaisa? 

Thai.  A\^hat  is  it  to  me,  my  father  ? 

Sim.  O,  attend,  my  daughter: 

Princes,  in  this,  should  live  like  gods  above, 

Who  freely  give  to  every  one  that  comes  60 

To  honour  them : 

And  princes  not  doing  so  are  like  to  gnats, 

Which  make  a  sound,  but  kill'd  are  wonder'd  at. 

Therefore  to  make  his  entrance  more  sweet, 

Here,  say  we  drink  this  standing-bowl  of  wine  to  him. 

Thai.  Alas,  my  father,  it  befits  not  me 

Unto  a  stranger  knight  to  be  so  bold : 
He  may  my  proffer  take  for  an  offence, 
Since  men  take  women's  gifts  for  impudence. 

Sim.  How !  70 

Do  as  I  bid  you,  or  you  '11  move  me  else. 

Thai.    [Aside]    Now,  by  the  gods,  he  could  not  please  me 
better. 

Sim.  And  furthermore  tell  him,  we  desire  to  know  of  him, 
Of  whence  he  is,  his  name  and  parentage. 

Thai.  The  king  my  father,  sir,  has  drunk  to  you. 

Per.  I  thank  him. 

Thai.  Wishing  it  so  much  blood  unto  your  life. 

Per.  I  thank  both  him  and  you,  and  pledge  him  freely. 

Thai.  And  further  he  desires  to  know  of  you 

Of  whence  you  are,  your  name  and  parentage.         80 

Per.  A  gentleman  of  Tyre  ;   my  name,  Pericles  ; 
My  education  been  in  arts  and  arms  ; 
Who,  looking  for  adventures  in  the  world, 
Was  by  the  rough  seas  reft  of  ships  and  men, 
And  after  shipwreck  driven  upon  this  shore. 

52 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  II.  Sc.  iii. 

Thai.  He  thanks  your  grace;  names  himself  Pericles, 
A  gentleman  of  Tyre, 
Who  only  by  misfortune  of  the  seas 
Bereft, of  ships  and  men,  cast  on  this  shore. 

Si]]i.   Now,  by  the  gods,  I  pity  his  misfortune,  90 

And  will  awake  him  from  his  melancholy. 
Come,  gentlemen,  we  sit  too  long  on  trifles, 
And  waste  the  time,  which  looks  for  other  revels. 
Even  in  your  armours,  as  you  are  address'd, 
Will  very  well  become  a  soldier's  dance. 
I  will  not  have  excuse,  with  saying  this 
Loud  music  is  too  harsh  for  ladies'  heads. 
Since  they  love  men  in  arms  as  well  as  beds. 

[The  Knights  dance. 
So,  this  was  well  ask'd,  'twas  so  well  perform'd. 
Come,  sir,  100 

Here  's  a  lady  that  wants  breathing  too : 
And  I  have  heard,  you  knights  of  Tyre 
Are  excellent  in  making  ladies  trip. 
And  that  their  measures  are  as  excellent. 

Per.  In  those  that  practise  them  they  are,  my  lord. 

Sim.  O,  that  's  as  much  as  you  would  be  denied 
Of  your  fair  courtesy. 

[The  Knights  and  Ladies  dance. 
Unclasp,  unclasp : 
Thanks,  gentlemen,  to  all ;  all  have  done  well, 
[To  Pericles]   But  you  the  best.     Pages  and  lights,  to 

conduct 
These  knights  unto  their  several  lodgings !  Yours,  sir, 
We  have  given  order  to  be  next  our  own.  11 1 

Per.  I  am  at  your  grace's  pleasure. 

Sim.  Princes,  it  is  too  late  to  talk  of  love, 

53 


Act  II.  Sc.  iv.  PERICLES. 

And  that  's  the  mark  I  know  you  level  at : 
Therefore  each  one  betake  him  to  his  rest ; 
To-morrow  all  for  speeding  do  their  best.    [Exeunt. 

Scene  IV. 

Tyre.  A  room  in  the  Governor's  house. 
Enter  Helicanus  and  Escanes. 

Hel,  No,  Escanes,  know  this  of  me, 

Antiochus  from  incest  lived  not  free : 

For  which,  the  most  high  gods  not  minding  longer 

To  withhold  the  vengeance  that  they  had  in  store, 

Due  to  this  heinous  capital  offence, 

Even  in  the  height  and  pride  of  all  his  glory. 

When  he  was  seated  in  a  chariot 

Of  an  inestimable  value,  and  his  daughter  with  him, 

A  fire  from  heaven  came,  and  shrivell'd  up 

Their  bodies,  even  to  loathing ;   for  they  so  stunk,    lo 

That  all  those  eyes  adored  them  ere  their  fall 

Scorn  now  their  hand  should  give  them  burial. 

Esca.  'Twas  very  strange. 

Hel.  And  yet  but  justice ;  for  though 

This  king  were  great,  his  greatness  was  no  guard 
To  bar  heaven's  shaft,  but  sin  had  his  reward. 

Esca.  Tis  very  true. 

Enter  tivo  or  three  Lords. 

First  Lord.  See,  not  a  man  in  private  conference 

Or  council  has  respect  with  him  but  he. 
Sec.  Lord.  It  shall  no  longer  grieve  without  reproof. 
Third  Lord.  And  cursed  be  he  that  will  not  second  it.     20 
First  Lord.  Follow  me  then.    Lord  Helicane,  a  word. 

54 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  II.  Sc.  iv. 

Hcl.  With  me  ?  and  welcome :  happy  day,  my  lords. 

First  Lord.  Know  that  our  griefs  are  risen  to  the  top, 
And  now  at  length  they  overflow  their  banks. 

Hel,  Your  griefs !   for  what  ?  wrong  not  your  prince  you 
love. 

First  Lord.  Wrong  not  yourself,  then,  noble  Helicarre ; 
But  if  the  prince  do  live,  let  us  salute  him, 
Or  know  what  ground  's  made  happy  by  his  breath. 
If  in  the  world  he  live,  we  '11  seek  him  out ; 
If  in  his  grave  he  rest,  we  '11  find  him  there;  30 

And  be  resolved  he  lives  to  govern  us, 
Or  dead,  give  's  cause  to  mourn  his  funeral, 
And  leave  us  to  our  free  election. 

Sec.  Lord,  Whose  death  's  indeed  the  strongest  in  our 
censure : 
And  knowing  this  kingdom  is  without  a  head, — 
Like  goodly  buildings  left  without  a  roof 
Soon  fall  to  ruin — your  noble  self. 
That  best  know  how  to  rule  and  how  to  reign, 
We  thus  submit  unto,  our  sovereign. 

All.  Live,  noble  Helicane  !  40 

Hcl.  For  honour's  cause,  forbear  your  suffrages  : 
If  that  you  love  Prince  Pericles,  forbear. 
Take  I  your  wish,  I  leap  into  the  seas. 
Where  's  hourly  trouble  for  a  minute's  ease. 
A  twelvemonth  longer,  let  me  entreat  you 
To  forbear  the  absence  of  your  king  ; 
If  in  which  time  expired  he  not  return, 
I  shall  with  aged  patience  bear  your  yoke. 
But  if  I  cannot  win  you  to  this  love. 
Go  search  like  nobles,  like  noble  subjects,  50 

And  in  your  search  spend  your  adventurous  worth  ; 

55 


Act  II.  Sc.  V.  PERICLES. 

Whom  if  you  find  and  win  unto  return, 
You  shall  like  diamonds  sit  about  his  crown. 
First  Lord.  To  wisdom  he  's  a  fool  that  will  not  yield ; 
And  since  Lord  Helicane  enjoineth  us, 
We 'with  our  travels  will  endeavour  it. 
Hel.  Then  you  love  us,  we  you,  and  we  '11  clasp  hands  : 
When  peers  thus  knit,  a  kingdom  ever  stands. 

[Exeunt. 
Scene  V. 

Pentapolis.    A  room  in  the  palace. 

Enter  Simonides,  reading  a  letter,  at  one  door: 
the  Knights  meet  him. 

First  Knight.  Good  morrow  to  the  good  Simonides. 

Sim.  Knights,  from  my  daughter  this  I  let  you  know, 
That  for  this  twelvemonth  she  '11  not  undertake 
A  married  life. 

Her  reason  to  herself  is  only  known, 
W^hich  from  her  by  no  means  can  I  get. 

Sec.  Knight.  May  we  not  get  access  to  her,  my  lord  ? 

Sim.    Faith,  by  no  means ;  she  hath  so  strictly 
Tied  her  to  her  chamber,  that  'tis  impossible. 
One  twelve  moons  more  she  '11  wear  Diana's  livery ; 
This  by  the  eye  of  Cynthia  hath  she  vow'd,  1 1 

And  on  her  virgin  honour  will  not  break  it. 

Third  Knight.  Loath  to  bid  farewell,  we  take  our  leaves. 

[Exennt  Knights. 

Sim.  So, 

They  are  well  dispatch'd  ;  now  to  my  daughter's  letter  : 
She  tells  me  here,  she  '11  wed  the  stranger  knight, 
Or  never  more  to  view  nor  day  nor  light. 
'Tis  well,  mistress ;  your  choice  agrees  with  mine ; 

56 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  II.  Sc.  v. 

I  like  that  well :  nay,  how  absolute  she  's  in  't, 

Not  minding  whether  I  dislike  or  no!  20 

Well,  I  do  commend  her  choice; 

And  will  no  longer  have  it  be  delay'd. 

Soft !  here  he  comes  :  I  must  dissemble  it. 

Enter  Pericles. 

Per.  All  fortune  to  the  good  Simonides ! 

Sim.  To  you  as  much,  sir !    I  am  beholding  to  you 
For  your  sweet  music  this  last  night :    I  do 
Protest  my  ears  were  never  better  fed 
With  such  delightful  pleasing  harmony. 

Per.  It  is  your  grace's  pleasure  to  commend ; 
Not  my  desert. 

Sim.  Sir,  you  are  music's  master.  30 

Per.  The  worst  of  all  her  scholars,  my  good  lord. 

Sim.  Let  me  ask  you  one  thing :  what  do  you  think  of  my 
daughter,  sir? 

Per.  A  most  virtuous  princess. 

Sim.  And  she  is  fair  too,  is  she  not? 

Per.  As  a  fair  day  in  summer,  wondrous  fair. 

Sim.  Sir,  my  daughter  thinks  very  well  of  you ; 
Ay,  so  well,  that  you  must  be  her  master, 
And  she  will  be  your  scholar :   therefore  look  to  it. 

Per.  I  am  unworthy  for  her  schoolmaster.  40 

Sim.  She  thinks  not  so ;  peruse  this  writing  else. 

Per.    [Aside]  What's  here? 

A  letter,  that  she  loves  the  knight  of  Tyre ! 

'Tis  the  king's  subtilty  to  have  my  life. — • 

O,  seek  not  to  entrap  me,  gracious  lord, 

A  stranger  and  distressed  gentleman. 

That  never  aim'd  so  high  to  love  your  daughter, 

57 


Act  II.  Sc.  V.  PERICLES, 

But  bent  all  offices  to  honour  her. 
Sim.  Thou  hast  bewitch 'd  my  daughter,  and  thou  art 

A  villain.  50 

Per.  By  the  gods,  I  have  not : 

Never  did  thought  of  mine  levy  offence ; 

Nor  never  did  my  actions  yet  commence 

A  deed  might  gain  her  love  or  your  displeasure. 
Sim.  Traitor,  thou  liest. 
Per.  Traitor ! 

Sim.  Ay,  traitor. 

Per.  Even  in  his  throat — unless  it  be  the  king — 

That  calls  me  traitor,  I  return  the  lie. 
Sim.  [Aside]  Now,  by  the  gods,  I  do  applaud  his  courage. 
Per.  My  actions  are  as  noble  as  my  thoughts. 

That  never  relish'd  of  a  base  descent.  60 

I  came  unto  your  court  for  honour's  cause, 

And  not  to  be  a  rebel  to  her  state ; 

And  he  that  otherwise  accounts  of  me. 

This  sword  shall  prove  he  's  honour's  enemy. 
Sim.  No? 

Here  comes  my  daughter,  she  can  witness  it. 

Enter  TJiaisa. 

Per.  Then,  as  you  are  as  virtuous  as  fair, 

Resolve  your  angry  father,  if  my  tongue 

Did  e'er  solicit,  or  my  hand  subscribe 

To  any  syllable  that  made  love  to  you.  70 

Thai.  Why,  sir,  say  if  you  had, 

Who  takes  offence  at  that  would  make  me  glad  ? 

Sim.  Yea,  mistress,  are  you  so  peremptory? 
[Aside]    1  am  glad  on  't  with  all  my  heart. — 
I  '11  tame  you ;  I  '11  bring  you  in  subjection. 

S8 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  III. 

Will  you,  not  having  my  consent, 

Bestow  your  love  and  your  affections 

Upon  a  stranger?  [Aside]  who,  for  aught  I  know, 

May  be,  nor  can  I  think  the  contrary, 

As  great  in  blood  as  I  myself. —  80 

Therefore,  hear  you,  mistress ;  either  frame 

Your  will  to  mine, — and  you,  sir,  hear  you, 

Either  be  ruled  by  me,  or  I  '11  make  you — 

Man  and  w^ife : 

Nay,  come,  your  hands  and  lips  must  seal  it  too 

And  being  join'd,  I  '11  thus  your  hopes  destroy ; 

And  for  a  further  grief, — God  give  you  joy! 

What,  are  you  both  pleased  ? 

Thai.  Yes,  if  you  love  me,  sir. 

Per.  Even  as  my  life  my  blood  that  fosters  it. 

Sim.  What,  are  you  both  agreed?  90 

Both.  Yes,  if  't  please  your  majesty. 

Sim.  It  pleaseth  me  so  well,  that  I  will  see  you  wed ; 
And  then,  with  what  haste  you  can,  get  you  to  bed. 

[Exeunt. 


ACT  THIRD. 

Enter  Gozver, 

Gozv.  Now  sleep  y-slaked  hath  the  rout ; 
No  din  but  snores  the  house  about. 
Made  louder  by  the  o'er-fed  breast 
Of  this  most  pompous  marriage-feast. 
The  cat,  wnth  eyne  of  burning  coal, 
Now  couches  'fore  the  mouse's  hole ; 
And  crickets  sing  at  the  oven's  mouth, 

59 


Act  III.  PERICLES, 

E'er  the  blither  for  their  drouth. 

Hymen  hath  brought  the  bride  to  bed, 

Where,  by  the  loss  of  maidenhead,  lo 

A  babe  is  moulded.     Be  attent, 

And  time  that  is  so  briefly  spent 

With  your  fine  fancies  quaintly  eche : 

What 's  dumb  in  show  I  '11  plain  with  speech. 

Dumb  Show. 

Enter  Pericles  and  Simonides  at  one  door,  zvith  Attend- 
ants; a  Messenger  meets  them,  kneels,  and  gives 
Pericles  a  letter:  Pericles  shozvs  it  Simonides;  the 
Lords  kneel  to  the  former.  Then  enter  Thaisa  zvitJi 
child,  with  Lychorida,  a  nurse:  the  King  shows  her 
the  letter;  she  rejoices:  she  and  Pericles  take  leazr 
of  her  father,  and  depart  with  Lychorida  and  thci  ■ 
Attendants.    Then  exeunt  Simonides  and  the  rest. 

By  many  a  dern  and  painful  perch 

Of  Pericles  the  careful  search, 

By  the  four  opposing  coigns 

Which  the  world  together  joins, 

Is  made  with  all  due  diligence 

That  horse  and  sail  and  high  expense  20 

Can  stead  the  quest.     At  last  from  Tyre, 

Fame  answering  the  most  strange  inquire, 

To  the  court  of  King  Simonides 

Are  letters  brought,  the  tenour  these 

Antiochus  and  his  daughter  dead  ; 

The  men  of  Tyrus  on  the  head 

Of  Helicanus  would  set  on 

The  crown  of  Tyre,  but  he  will  none : 

The  mutiny  he  there  hastes  t'  oppress ; 

Says  to  'em,  if  King  Pericles  30 

60 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  III. 

Come  not  home  in  twice  six  moons, 

He,  obedient  to  their  dooms. 

Will  take  the  crown.    The  sum  of  this, 

Brought    hither  to  Pentapolis, 

Y-ravished  the  regions  round, 

And  every  one  with  claps  can  sound, 

'  Our  heir-apparent  is  a  king ! 

Who  dream'd,  who  thought  of  such  a  thing?' 

Brief,  he  must  hence  depart  to  Tyre : 

His  queen  with  child  makes  her  desire —  40 

Wliich  who  shall  cross  ? — along  to  go. 

Omit  we  all  their  dole  and  woe : 

Lychorida,  her  nurse,  she  takes, 

And  so  to  sea :   their  vessel  shakes 

On  Neptune's  billow  ;  half  the  flood 

Hath  their  keel  cut :  "but  fortune's  mood 

Varies  again ;    the  grisled  north 

Disgorges  such  a  tempest  forth, 

That,  as  a  duck  for  life  that  dives. 

So  up  and  down  the  poor  ship  drives :  50 

The  lady  shrieks  and  well-a-near 

Does  fall  in  travail  with  her  fear : 

And  what  ensues  in  this  fell  storm 

Shall  for  itself  itself  perform. 

I  nill  relate,  action  may 

Conveniently  the  rest  convey ; 

Which  might  not  wdiat  by  me  is  told. 

In  your  imagination  hold 

This  stage  the  ship,  upon  whose  deck 

The  sea-tost  Pericles  appears  to  speak.         [Exit.  60 


61 


Act  III.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES. 

Scene  I. 

Enter  Pericles,  on  shipboard. 

Per.  Thou  god  of  this  great  vast,  rebuke  these  surges. 
Which  wash  both  heaven  and  hell;    and  thou,  that 

hast 
Upon  the  winds  command,  bind  them  in  brass, 
Having  call'd  them  from  the  deep !   O,  still 
Thy  deafening  dreadful  thunders  ;   gently  quench 
Thy  nimble  sulphurous  flashes !     O,  how,  Lychorida, 
How  does  my  queen  ?     Thou  stormest  venomously ; 
Wilt  thou  spit  all  thyself  ?    The  seaman's  whistle 
Is  as  a  whisper  in  the  ears  of  death, 
Unheard.     Lychorida! — Lucina,  O  lo 

Divinest  patroness  and  midwife  gentle 
To  those  that  cry  by  night,  convey  thy  deity 
Aboard  our  dancing  boat ;  make  swift  the  pangs 
Of  my  queen's  travails  !     Now,  Lychorida ! 

Enter  Lychorida,  tvith  an  Infant. 

Lye.  Here  is  a  thing  too  young  for  such  a  place, 

Who,  if  it  had  conceit,  would  die,  as  I 

Am  like  to  do :  take  in  your  arms  this  piece 

Of  your  dead  queen. 
Per.  How,  how,  Lychorida! 

Lye.  Patience,  good  sir ;   do  not  assist  the  storm. 

Here  's  all  that  is  left  living  of  your  queen,  20 

A  little  daughter :  for  the  sake  of  it. 

Be  manly,  and  take  comfort. 
Per.  O  you  gods  ! 

Why  do  you  make  us  love  your  goodly  gifts,  . 
62 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  III.  Sc.  i. 

And  snatch  them  straight  away?     We  here  below 
Recall  not  what  we  give,  and  therein  may 
Use  honour  with  you. 

Lye.  l^atience,  good  sir, 

Even  for  this  charge. 

Per.  Now,  mild  may  be  thy  life ! 

For  a  more  blustrous  birth  had  never  babe : 
Quiet  and  gentle  thy  conditions  !   for 
Thou  art  the  ruddiest  welcome  to  this  world  30 

That  ever  was  prince's  child.     Happy  what  follows ! 
Thou  hast  as  chiding  a  nativity 
As  fire,  air,  water,  earth  and  heaven  can  make, 
To  herald  thee  from  the  womb :  even  at  the  first 
Thy  loss  is  more  than  can  thy  portage  quit, 
With  all  thou  canst  find  here.     Now,  the  good  gods 
Throw  their  best  eyes  upon  't ! 

Enter  tzi'o  Sailors. 

First  Sail.  What  courage,  sir  ?  God  save  you ! 
Per.  Courage  enough  :  I  do  not  fear  the  flaw  ; 

It  hath  done  to  me  the  worst.    Yet,  for  the  love       40 

Of  this  poor  infant,  this  fresh-new  sea-farer, 

I  would  it  w^ould  be  quiet. 
First  Sail.  Slack  the  bolins  there!     Thou  wilt  not, 

wilt  thou?     Blow,  and  split  thyself. 
See.  Sail.  But   sea-room,   an  the  brine   and   cloudy 

billow  kiss  the  moon,  I  care  not. 
First  Sail.  Sir,  your  queen  must  overboard :    the  sea 

works  high,  the  wind  is  loud,  and  will  not  lie 

till  the  ship  be  cleared  of  the  dead. 
7Vr.  That  's  your  superstition.  50 

First  Sail.  Pardon  us,  sir ;  with  us  at  sea  It  hath  been 

63 


Act  III.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES. 

still  observed ;  and  we  are  strong  in  custom. 
Therefore  briefly  yield  her ;  for  she  must  over- 
board straight. 

Per.  As  you  think  meet.     Most  wretched  queen ! 

Lye.  Here  she  lies,  sir. 

Per.  A  terrible  childbed  hast  thou  had,  my  dear ; 
No  light,  no  fire  :  the  unfriendly  elements 
Forgot  thee  utterly ;   nor  have  I  time 
To  give  thee  hallow 'd  to  thy  grave,  but  straight       60 
Must  cast  thee,  scarcely  coffin'd,  in  the  ooze ; 
Where,  for  a  monument  upon  thy  bones, 
And  aye-remaining  lamps,  the  belching  whale 
And  humming  water  must  o'erwhelm  thy  corpse, 
Lying  with  simple  shells.    O  Lychorida, 
Bid  Nestor  bring  me  spices,  ink  and  paper, 
My  casket  and  my  jewels  ;  and  bid  Nicander 
Bring  me  the  satin  coffer :   lay  the  babe 
Upon  the  pillow :  hie  thee,  whiles  I  say 
A  priestly  farewell  to  her :   suddenly,  woman.         70 

[Exit  Lyehorida. 

Sec.  Sail.  Sir,  we  have  a  chest  beneath  the  hatches, 
caulked  and  bitumed  ready. 

Per.  I  thank  thee.     Mariner,  say  what  coast  is  this  ? 

Sec.  Sail.  We  are  near  Tarsus. 

Per.  Thither,  gentle  mariner. 

Alter  thy  course  for  Tyre.    When  canst  thou  reach  it  ? 

Sec.  Sail.  By  break  of  day,  if  the  wind  cease. 

Per.  O,  make  for  Tarsus  ! 

There  will  I  visit  Cleon,  for  the  babe 
Cannot  hold  out  to  Tyrus  :  there  I  '11  leave  it  80 

At  careful  nursing.     Go  thy  ways,  good  mariner : 
I  '11  bring  the  body  presently.  [Exeunt. 

64 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  III.  Sc.  ii. 

Scene  II. 

Ephesus.    A  room  in  Cerimon's  house. 

Enter  Cerimon,  a  Servant,  and  some  Persons  zvho 
have  been  shipwrecked, 

Cer.  Philemon,  ho! 

Enter  Philemon. 

Phil.  Doth  my  lord  call? 

Ccr.  Get  fire  and  meat  for  these  poor  men : 

'T  has  been  a  turbulent  and  stormy  night. 
Serv.  I  have  been  in  many ;  but  such  a  night  as  this 

Till  now,  I  ne'er  endured. 
Cer.  Your  master  will  be  dead  ere  you  return ; 

There  's  nothing  can  be  minister'd  to  nature 

That  can  recover  him.     [To  Philemon]    Give  this  to 
the  'pothecary, 

And  tell  me  how  it  works. 

[Exeunt  all  but  Cerimon. 

Enter  tzvo  Gentlemen, 

First  Gent.  Good  morrow.  lo 

Sec.  Gent.  Good  morrow  to  your  lordship. 

Cer.  Gentlemen, 

Why  do  you  stir  so  early? 
First  Gent.  Sir, 

Our  lodgings,  standing  bleak  upon  the  sea 

Shook  as  the  earth  did  quake ; 

The  very  principals  did  seem  to  rend 

And  all-to  topple :  pure  surprise  and  fear 

Made  me  to  quit  the  house. 
Sec.  Gent.  That  is  the  cause  we  trouble  you  so  early ; 

Tis  not  our  husbandry. 

65 


Act  III.  Sc.  ii.  PERICLES, 

Cer.  O,  you  say  well.  20 

First  Gent.  But  I  much  marvel  that  your  lordship,  having 
Rich  tire  about  you,  should  at  these  early  hours 
Shake  off  the  golden  slumber  of  repose. 
'Tis  most  strange, 

Nature  should  be  so  conversant  with  pain, 
Being  thereto  not  compell'd. 

Cer.  I  hold  it  ever, 

Virtue  and  cunning  were  endowments  greater 

Than  nobleness  and  riches  :  careless  heirs 

May  the  two  latter  darken  and  expend. 

But  immortality  attends  the  former,  30 

Alaking  a  man  a  god.     'Tis  known,  I  ever 

Have  studied  physic,  through  which  secret  art. 

By  turning  o'er  authorities,  I  have, 

Together  with  my  practice,  made  familiar 

To  me  and  to  my  aid  the  blest  infusions 

That  dwell  in  vegetives,  in  metals,  stones ; 

And  I  can  speak  of  the  disturbances 

That  nature  works,  and  of  her  cures ;    which  doth 

give  me 
A  more  content  in  course  of  true  delight 
Than  to  be  thirsty  after  tottering  honour,  40 

Or  tie  my  treasure  up  in  silken  bags. 
To  please  the  fool  and  death. 

Sec.  Gent.  Your  honour  has  through  Ephesus  pour'd  forth 
Your  charity,  and  hundreds  call  themselves 
Your  creatures,  who  by  you  have  been  restored : 
And  not  your  knowledge,  your  personal  pain,  but 

even 
Your  purse,  still  open,  hath  built  Lord  Cerimon 
Such  strong  renown  as  time  shall  never. 

66 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  III   Sc.  ii. 

Enter  tzco  or  three  Servants  zvith  a  chest. 

First  Serz\  So  ;    lift  there. 
Cer.  What's  that? 
First  Serv.  Sir, 

Even  now  did  the  sea  toss  up  upon  our  shore         50 

This  chest :   'tis  of  some  wreck. 
Cer.  Set 't  down,  let 's  look  upon  't. 
Sec.  Gent.  'Tis  like  a  coffin,  sir. 
Cer.  Whate'er  it  be, 

'Tis  wondrous  heavy.     Wrench  it  open  straight : 

If  the  sea's  stomach  be  o'ercharged  with  gold, 

'Tis  a  good  constraint  of  fortune  it  belches  upon  us. 
Sec.  Gent.  'Tis  so,  my  lord. 
Cer.  How  close  'tis  caulk'd  and  bitumed !     Did  the 

sea  cast  it  up  ? 
First  Serv.   I  never  saw  so  huge  a  billow,  sir,  as  toss'd 

it  upon  shore. 
Cer.  Wrench  it  open  : 

Soft !  it  smells  most  sweetly  in  my  sense.  60 

Sec.  Gent.  A  delicate  odour. 
Cer.  As  ever  hit  mv  nostril.     So,  up  with  it. 

O  you  most  potent  gods !    what  's  here  ?   a  corse ! 
First  Gent.  ]\lost  strange ! 
Cer.  Shrouded  in  cloth  of  state ;  balmed  and  entreasured 

With  full  bags  of  spices  !    A  passport  too ! 
y      Apollo,  perfect  me  in  the  characters ! 

[Reads  from  a  scroll. 
*  Here  I  give  to  understand. 
If  e'er  this  coffin  drive  a-land, 
I,  King  Pericles,  have  lost  70 

This  queen,  worth  all  our  mundane  cost. 

67 


Act  III.  Sc.  ii.  PERICLES. 

Who  finds  her,  give  her  burying ; 

She  was  the  daughter  of  a  king : 

Besides  this  treasure  for  a  fee, 

The  gods  requite  his  charity !  * 
If  thou  Hvest,  Pericles,  thou  hast  a  heart 
That  even  cracks  for  woe !    This  chanced  to-night. 
Sec.  Gent.  Most  hkely,  sir. 
Cer.  Nay,  certainly  to-night ; 

For  look  how  fresh  she  looks !  They  were  too  rough 
That  threw  her  in  the  sea.  Make  a  fire  within :  80 
Fetch  hither  all  my  boxes  in  my  closet. 

[Exit  a  servant. 
Death  may  usurp  on  nature  many  hours. 
And  yet  the  fire  of  life  kindle  again 
The  o'erpress'd  spirits.    I  heard  of  an  Egyptian 
That  had  nine  hours  lien  dead, 
Who  was  by  good  appliance  recovered. 

Re-enter  a  Servant,  ivith  boxes,  napkins,  and  fire. 

Well  said,  well  said ;   the  fire  and  cloths. 
The  rough  and  woful  music  that  we  have. 
Cause  it  to  sound,  beseech  you. 
The  viol  once  more  :  how  thou  stirr'st,  thou  block ! 
The  music  there!     I  pray  you,  give  her  air.  91 

Gentlemen, 

This  queen  will  live :  nature  awakes  ;   a  warmth 
Breathes  out  of  her :  she  hath  not  been  entranced 
Above  five  hours :   see  how  she  'gins  to  blow 
Into  life's  flower  again ! 
First  Gent.  The  heavens, 

Through  you,  increase  our  wonder,  and  set  up 
Your  fame  for  ever. 

68 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  III.  Sc.  iii. 

Cer.  She  is  alive ;  behold, 

Her  eyelids,  cases  to  those  heavenly  jewels 
Which  Pericles  hath  lost,  begin  to  part  loo 

Their  fringes  of  bright  gold :   the  diamonds 
Of  a  most  praised  water  do  appear 
To  make  the  world  twice  rich.     Live, 
And  make  us  weep  to  hear  your  fate,  fair  creature, 
Rare  as  you  seem  to  be.  [She  moves. 

Thai.  O  dear  Diana, 

Where  am  I  ?     Where  's  my  lord  ?     What  world  is 
this? 

Sec.  Gent.  Is  not  this  strange  ? 

First  Gent.  IMost  rare. 

Cer.  Hush,  my  gentle  neighbours  ! 

Lend  me  your  hands  ;  to  the  next  chamber  bear  her. 
Get  linen  :  now  this  matter  must  be  look'd  to, 
For  her  relapse  is  mortal.    Come,  come  ;  i  lo 

And  v^sculapius  guide  us  ! 

[Exeujit,  carrying  her  azvay. 

Scene  III. 

Tarsus.     A  room  in  the  Governor  s  honse. 

Enter  Pericles,  Cleon,  Diony::ra,  and  Lychorida  with 
Marina  in  her  arms. 

Per.  Most  honour'd  Cleon,  I  must  needs  be  gone ; 
My  twelve  months  are  expired,  and  Tyrus  stands 
In  a  litigious  peace.     You,  and  your  lady. 
Take   from  my  heart  all  thankfulness !     The  gods 
Make  up  the  rest  upon  you ! 

Cle.  Your  shafts  of  fortune,  though  they  hurt  you  mortally. 
Yet  glance  full  wanderingly  on  us. 

69 


Act  III.  Sc.  iii.  PERICLES, 

Dion.  O  your  sweet  queen  ! 

That  the  strict  fates  had  pleased  you  had  brought  her 

hither, 
To  have  bless'd  mine  eyes  with  her ! 

Per.  We  cannot  but  obey 

The  powers  above  us.    Could  I  rage  and  roar         lo 
As  doth  the  sea  she  lies  in,  yet  the  end 
Must  be  as  'tis.     My  gentle  babe  Marina,  whom, 
For  she  was  born  at  sea,  I  have  named  so,  here 
I  charge  your  charity  withal,  leaving  her 
The  infant  of  your  care :  beseeching  you 
To  give  her  princely  training,  that  she  may  be 
Manner'd  as  she  is  born. 

Cle.  Fear  not,  my  lord,  but  think 

Your  grace,  that  fed  my  country  with  your  corn. 
For  which  the  people's  prayers  still  fall  upon  you, 
Must  in  your  child  be  thought  on.    If  neglection     20 
Should  therein  make  me  vile,  the  common  body. 
By  you  relieved,  v.'ould  force  me  to  my  duty : 
But  if  to  that  my  nature  need  a  spur, 
The  gods  revenge  it  upon  me  and  mine, 
To  the  end  of  generation  ! 

Per.  I  believe  you  ; 

Your  honour  and  your  goodness  teach  me  to  't, 
Without  your  vows.    Till  she  be  married,  madam, 
By  bright  Diana,  whom  we  honour,  all 
Unscissar'd  shall  this  hair  of  mine  remain, 
Though  I  show  ill  in  't.     So  I  take  my  leave.  30 

Good  madam,  make  me  blessed  in  your  care 
In  bringing  up  my  child. 

Dion.  I  have  one  myself, 

Who  shall  not  be  more  dear  to  my  respect 

70 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  III.  Sc.  iv. 

Than  yours,  my  lord. 
Per,  IMadam,  my  thanks  and  prayers. 

Cle.  We  '11  bring  your   grace  e'en  to  the  edge,   o'  the 
shore, 

Then  give  you  up  to  the  mask'd  Neptune  and 

Tlic  gentlest  winds  of  heaven. 
Per.  I  will  embrace 

Your  offer.    Come,  dearest  madam.   O,  no  tears, 

Lychorida,  no  tears :    , 

Look  to  your  little  mistress,  on  whose  grace  40 

You  may  depend  hereafter.   Come,  my  lord.    [Exeunt. 

Scene  IV. 

Ephesus.    A  room  in  Ceri  Aon's  house. 

Enter  Cerimon  and  Thaisa. 

Cer.  Madam,  this  letter,  and  some  certain  jewels. 
Lay  with  you  in  your  coffer :   which  are 
At  your  command.    Know  you  the  character? 

Thai.  It  is  my  lord's. 

That  I  was  shipp'd  at  sea,  I  well  remember. 

Even  on  my  eaning  time  ;  but  whether  there 

Delivered,  by  the  holy  gods, 

I  cannot  rightly  say.     But  smce  King  Pericles, 

My  wedded  lord,  I  ne'er  shall  see  again, 

A  vestal  livery  will  I  take  me  to,  10 

And  never  more  have  joy. 

Cer.  Madam,  if  this  you  purpose  as  ye  speak, 
Dipna's  temple  is  net  distant  far. 
Where  you  may  abide  till  your  date  expire. 
Moreover,  if  you  please,  a  niece  of  mine 
Shall  there  attend  you. 

71 


Act  IV.  PERICLES. 

Thai.  My  recompense  is  thanks,  that  *s  all ; 

Yet  my  good  will  is  great,  though  the  gift  small. 

[Exeunt. 

ACT  FOURTH. 

Enter  Gozvcr. 

Gozv.  Imagine  Pericles  arrived  at  Tyre, 

Welcomed  and  settled  to  his  own  desire. 

His  woeful  queen  we  leave  at  Ephesus, 

Unto  Diana  there  as  a  votaress. 

Now  to  Marina  bend  your  mind, 

Whom  our  fast-growing  scene  must  find 

At  Tarsus,  and  by  Cleon  train'd 

In  music,  letters ;   who  hath  gam'd 

Of  education  all  the  grace, 

W^hich  makes  her  both  the  heart  and  place  lo 

Of  general  wonder.     But,  alack, 

That  monster  envy,  oft  the  wrack 

Of  earned  praise,  Marina's  life 

Seeks  to  take  off  by  treason's  knife. 

And  in  this  kind  hath  our  Cleon 

One  daughter,  and  a  wench  full  grown. 

Even  ripe  for  marriage  rite ;   this  maid 

Hight  Philoten  :  and  it  is  said 

For  certain  in  our  story,  she 

Would  ever  with  jMarina  be :  20 

Be  't  when  she  weaved  the  sleided  silk 

With  fingers  long,  small,  white  as  milk ; 

Or  when  she  would  with  sharp  needle  wound 

The  cambric,  which  she  made  more  sound 

7^ 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  IV. 

By  hurting  it ;   or  when  to  the  lute 

She  sung,  and  made  the  night-bird  mute, 

That  still  records  with  moan ;   or  when 

She  would  with  rich  and  constant  pen 

Vail  to  her  mistress  Dian  ;  still 

This  Philoten  contends  in  skill  30 

With  absolute  Marina  :   so 

With  the  dove  of  Paphos  might  the  crow 

Vie  feathers  white.    Marina  gets 

All  praises,  which  are  paid  as  debts, 

And  not  as  given.     This  so  darks 

In  Philoten  all  graceful  marks, 

That  Cleon's  wife,  with  envy  rare, 

A  present  murderer  does  prepare 

For  good  Marina,  that  her  daughter 

Might  stand  peerless  by  this  slaughter.  40 

The  sooner  her  vile  thoughts  to  stead, 

Lychorida,  our  nurse,  is  dead : 

And  cursed  Dionyza  hath 

The  pregnant  instrument  of  wrath 

Prest  for  this  blow.     The  unborn  event 

I  do  commend  to  your  content : 

Only  I  carry  winged  time 

Post  on  the  lame  feet  of  my  rhyme ; 

Which  never  could  I  so  convey. 

Unless  your  thoughts  went  on  my  way.  50 

Dionyza  does  appear. 

With  Leonine,  a  murderer.  [Exit. 


7S 


Act  IV.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES. 

Scene  I. 

Tarsus.    An  open  place  near  the  sca-shore. 
Enter  Dionyza  zi'itJi  Leonine. 

Dion.  Thy  oath  remember ;   thou  hast  sworn  to  do  't 
'Tis  but  a  blow,  which  never  shall  be  known. 
Thou  canst  not  do  a  thing  in  the  world  so  soon, 
To  yield  thee  so  much  profit.     Let  not  conscience, 
Which  is  but  cold,  inflaming  love  i'  thy  bosom, 
Inflame  too  nicely ;    nor  let  pity,  which 
Even  women  have  cast  off,  melt  thee,  but  be 
A  soldier  to  thy  purpose. 

Leon.  I  will  do  't ;  but  yet  she  is  a  goodly  creature. 

Dion.  The   fitter   then    the    gods    should    have   her.     lo 
Here  she  comes  weeping  for  her  only  mistress' 
death.     Thou  art  resolved? 

Leon.  I  am  resolved. 

,       Enter  Marina,  i<itli  a  basket  of  flowers. 

Mar.  No,  I  will  rob  Tellus  of  her  weed. 

To  strew  thy  green  with  flowers :  the  yellows,  blues, 

The  purple  violets,  and  marigolds. 

Shall,  as  a  carpet,  hang  upon  thy  grave, 

While  summer-days  do  last.    Ay  me !   poor  maid, 

Born  in  a  tempest,  when  my  mother  died. 

This  world  to  me  is  like  a  lasting  storm,  20 

Whirring  me  from  my  friends. 

Dion.  How  now,  Marina!   why  do  you  keep  alone? 
How  chance  my  daughter  is  not  with  you? 
Do  not  consume  your  blood  with  sorrowing : 
You  have  a  nurse  of  me.     Lord,  how  your  favour  's 
Changed  with  this  unprofitable  woe! 

74 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  IV.  Sc.  i. 

Come,  give  me  your  flowers,  ere  the  sea  mar  it. 

Walk  with  Leonine  ;  the  air  is  quick  there, 

And  it  pierces  and  sharpens  the  stomach. 

Come,  Leonine,  take  her  by  the  arm,  walk  with  her. 

Mar.  No,  I  pray  you  ;  3 1 

I  '11  not  bereave  you  of  your  servant. 

Dion.  Come,  come ; 

I  love  the  king  your  father  and  yourself 

With  more  than  foreign  heart.    We  every  day 

Expect  him  here  :  when  he  shall  come,  and  find 

Our  paragon  to  all  reports  thus  blasted, 

He  will  repent  the  breadth  of  his  great  voyage ; 

Blame  both  my  lord  and  me,  that  we  have  taken 

No  care  to  your  best  courses.     Go,  I  pray  you. 

Walk,  and  be  cheerful  once  again  ;  reserve  40 

That  excellent  complexion,  which  did  steal 

The  eyes  of  young  and  old.    Care  not  for  me  ; 

I  can  go  home  alone. 

Mar.  We]l,  I  will  go  : 

But  yet  I  have  no  desire  to  it. 

Dio}i.  Come,  come,  I  know  'tis  good  for  you. 
Walk  half  an  hour.  Leonine,  at  the  least : 
Remember  what  I  have  said. 

Leon.  I  warrant  you,  madam. 

Dion.  I  '11  leave  you,  my  sweet  lady,  for  a  while : 
Pray,  walk  softly,  do  not  heat  your  blood : 
What !  I  must  have  care  of  you. 

Mar.  My  thanks,  sweet  madam.     50 

[Exit  Dionyza. 
Is  this  wind  westerly  that  blows  ? 

Leon.  South-west. 

Mar.  When  I  was  born,  the  wind  was  north. 

75 


Act  IV.  Sc.  1.  PERICLES. 

Leon.  Was  't  so? 

Mar.  My  father,  as  nurse  said,  did  never  fear, 

But  cried  '  Good  seamen !  '  to  the  sailors,  galling 

His  kingly  hands,  haling  ropes  ; 

And,  clasping  to  the  mast,  endured  a  sea 

That  almost  burst  the  deck. 
Leon.  When  was  this  ? 
Mar.  When  I  was  born : 

Never  was  waves  nor  wind  more  violent ;  60 

And  from  the  ladder-tackle  washes  off 

A  canvas-climber.     '  Ha !  '  says  one,  '  wilt  out  ?  ' 

And  with  a  dropping  industry  they  skip 

From  stem  to  stern  :  the  boatswain  whistles,  and 

The  master  calls  and  trebles  their  confusion. 
Leon.  Come,  say  your  prayers. 
Alar.  What  mean  you  ? 
Leon.  If  you  require  a  little  space  for  prayer, 

I  grant  it :  pray ;  but  be  not  tedious. 

For  the  gods  are  quick  of  ear,  and  I  am  sworn         70 

To  do  my  w^ork  with  haste. 
Mar.  Why  will  you  kill  me  ? 

Leon.  To  satisfy  my  lady. 
Mar.  Why  would  she  have  me  kill'd  ? 

Now,  as  I  can  remember,  by  my  troth, 

I  never  did  her  hurt  in  all  my  life : 

I  never  spake  bad  word,  nor  did  ill  turn 

To  any  living  creature  :  believe  me,  la, 

I  never  kill'd  a  mouse,  nor  hurt  a  fly : 

I  trod  upon  a  worm  against  my  will, 

But  I  wept  for  it.    How  have  I  offended,  80 

Wherein  my  death  might  yield  her  any  profit, 

Or  my  life  imply  her  any  danger  ? 

76 


PRINCE  OF-  TYRE  Act  IV.  Sc.  i. 

Leon,  My  commission 

Is  not  to  reason  of  the  deed,  but  do  't. 

Mar.  You  will  not  do  't  for  all  the  world,  I  hope. 
You  are  well  favour'd,  and  your  looks  foreshow 
You  have  a  gentle  heart.    I  saw  you  lately, 
When  you  caught  hurt  in  parting  two  that  fought : 
Good  sooth,  it  show'd  well  in  you  :   do  so  now : 
Your  lady  seeks  my  life  ;   come  you  between,  90 

And  save  poor  me,  the  weaker. 

Leon.  I  am  sworn, 

And  will  dispatch.  [He  seizes  her. 

Enter  Pirates. 

First  Pirate.  Hold,  villain  !  [Leonine  runs  aivay. 

Sec.  Pirate.  A  prize  !  a  prize  ! 
Third  Pirate.  Half-part,  mates,  half-part. 
Come  let 's  have  her  aboard  suddenly. 

[Exeunt  Pirates  with  Marina. 

Re-enter  Leonine. 

Leon.  These  roguing  thieves  serve  the  great  pirate  Valdes  ; 
And  they  have  seized  Marina.    Let  her  go : 
There  's  no  hope  she  will  return.     I  '11  swear  she  's 

dead. 
And  thrown  into  the  sea.    But  I  '11  see  further  :       100 
Perhaps  they  will  but  please  themselves  upon  her, 
Not  carry  her  aboard.     If  she  remain, 
Whom  they  have  ravish'd  must  by  me  be  slain. 

[Exit. 


V 


Act  IV.  Sc.  ii.  PERICLES, 

Scene  II. 

Mytilenc.     A  room  in  a  brothel. 

Enter  Pandar,  Bawd,  and  Boult. 

Pand.  Boult! 

Boult.  Sir? 

Pand.  Search  the  market  narrowly ;   Mytilene  is  full 

of  gallants.    We  lost  too  much  money  this  mart 

by  being  too  wenchless. 
Bazvd.  We  were  never  so  much  out  of  creatures. 

We  have  but  poor  three,  and  they  can  do  no 

more  than  they  can  do ;  and  they  with  continual 

action  are  even  as  good  as  rotten. 
Pand.  Therefore  let 's  have  fresh  ones,  whate'er  we     lo 

pay  for  them.     If  there  be  not  a  conscience  to  be 

used  in  every  trade,  we  shall  never  prosper. 
Bazvd.  Thou  sayest  true :   'tis  not  our  bringing  up  of 

poor  bastards, — as,  I  think,  I  have  brought  up 

some  eleven — 
Boult.  Ay,  to  eleven  ;  and  brought  them  down  again. 

But  shall  I  search  the  market  ? 
Bawd.  What    else,    man?     The    stuff    we    have,    a 

strong  wind  will  blow  it  to  pieces,  they  are  so 

pitifully  sodden.  20 

Pand.  Thou  sayest  true ;   they  're  too  unwholesome, 

o'  conscience.     The  poor  Transylvanian  is  dead, 

that  lay  with  the  little  baggage. 
Boult.  Ay,  she  quickly  pooped  him ;    she  made  him 

roast-meat  for  worms.     But  I  '11  go  search  the 

market.  [Exit. 

Pand.  Three  or  four  thousand  chequins  were  as  pretty 

a  proportion  to  live  quietly,  and  so  give  over. 

78 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  IV.  Sc.  ii. 

Bawd.  Why  to  give  over,  I  pray  you  ?   is  it  a  shame 

to  get  when  we  are  old  ?  30 

Fand.  O,  our  credit  comes  not  in  Hke  the  commodity, 
nor  the  commodity  wages  not  with  the  danger: 
therefore,  if  in  our  youths  we  could  pick  up 
some  pretty  estate,  'twere  not  amiss  to  keep  our 
door  hatched.  Besides,  the  sore  terms  we  stand 
upon  with  the  gods  will  be  strong  with  us  for 
giving  o'er. 

Bazvd.  Come,  other  sorts  ofifend  as  well  as  we. 

Pand.  As  well  as  we !  ay,  and  better  too ;  we  offend 

worse.    Neither  is  our  profession  any  trade  ;  it 's     40 
no  calling.    But  her  comes  Boult. 

Re-enter  Boult,  z^'ifJi  the  Pirates  and  Marina. 

Boult.  [To  Marina]  Come  your  ways.  My  masters, 
you  say  she  's  a  virgin  ? 

First  Pirate.  O,  sir,  we  doubt  it  not. 

Boult.  Master,  I  have  gone  through  for  this  piece, 
you  see :  if  you  like  her,  so ;  if  not,  I  have  lost 
my  earnest. 

Bazvd.  Boult,  has  she  any  qualities  ? 

Boult.  She  has  a  good  face,  speaks  well,  and  has 

excellent     good     clothes :    there 's    no     farther     50 
necessity  of  qualities  can  make  her  be  refused. 

Bazvd.  What 's  her  price,  Boult  ? 

Boult.  I  cannot  be  bated  one  doit  of  a  thousand  pieces. 

Pand.  Well,  follow  me,  my  masters,  you  shall  have 
your  money  presently.  Wife,  take  her  in ;  in- 
struct her  what  she  has  to  do,  that  she  may  not 
be  raw  in  her  entertainment. 

[Exeunt  Pandar  and  Pirates. 

7Q 


Act  IV.  Sc.  ii.  PERICLES. 

Bawd.  Boult,  take  you  the  marks  of  her,  the  colour 
of  her  hair,  complexion,  height,  her  age,  with 
warrant  of  her  virginity  ;  and  cry  '  He  that  will  60 
give  most  shall  have  her  first.'  Such  a  maiden- 
head were  no  cheap  thing,  if  men  were  as  they 
have  been.     Get  this  done  as  I  command  you. 

Boult.  Performance  shall  follow.  [Exit. 

Mar.  Alack  that  Leonine  was  so  slack,  so  slow ! 

He  should  have  struck,   not  spoke ;    or  that  these 

pirates, 
Not  enough  barbarous,  had  not  o'erboard  thrown  me 
For  to  seek  my  mother ! 

Bazvd.  Why  lament  you,  pretty  one  ? 

Mar.  That  I  am  pretty.  70 

Bawd.  Come,  the  gods  have  done  their  part  in  you. 

Mar.  I  accuse  them  not. 

Bawd.  You  are  light  into  my  hands,  where  you  are 
like  to  live. 

Mar.  The  more  my  fault. 

To  'scape  his  hands  where  I  was  like  to  die. 

Bawd.  Ay,  and  you  shall  live  in  pleasure. 

Mar.  No. 

Bawd.  Yes,  indeed  shall  you,  and  taste  gentlemen 

of  all  fashions :   you  shall  fare  well :    you  shall     80 
have  the  difference  of  all  complexions.     What ! 
do  you  stop  your  ears? 

Mar.  Are  you  a  woman? 

Bazvd.  What  would  you  have  me  be,  an  I  be  not  a 
woman  ? 

Mar.  An  honest  woman,  or  not  a  w^oman. 

Bawd.  Marry,  whip  thee,  gosling:    I  think  T  shall 
have  something  to  do  with  you.     Come,  you  're 

80 


PRINCE  or  TYRE  Act  IV,  Sc.  ii. 

a  young  foolish  sapling,  and  must  be  bowed  as 

I  would  have  you.  qq 

Mar.  The  gods  defend  me ! 

Bawd.  If  it  please  the  gods  to  defend  yoii  by  men, 
then  men  must  comfort  you,  men  must  feed  you, 
men  must  stir  you  up.     Boult's  returned. 

Re-enter  Boitlt. 

Now,  sir,  hast  thou  cried  her  through  the  market? 
Boult.  I  have  cried  her  almost  to  the  number  of  her 

hairs ;   I  have  drawn  her  picture  with  my  voice. 
Bazvd.  And  I  prithee  tell  me,  how  dost  thou  find 

the  inclination  of  the  people,  especially  of  the 

younger  sort?  lOO 

Boiilf.  Faith,  they  listened  to  me  as  they  would  have 

hearkened   to   their    father's   testament.     There 

was  a  Spaniard's  mouth  so  watered,  that  he  went 

to  bed  to  her  very  description. 
Bazud.  We  shall  have  him  here  to-morrow  with  his 

best  rufif  on. 
Botilt.  To-night,    to-night.     But,    mistress,    do    you 

know  the  French  knight  that  cowers  i'  the  hams  ? 
Bazvd.  Who,  Monsieur  Veroles  ? 
Boult.  Ay,  he:   he  ofifered  to  cut  a  caper  at  the  pro-   no 

clamation ;  but  he  made  a  groan  at  it,  and  swore 

he  would  see  her  to-morrow. 
Bazvd.  \\'ell,  well ;  as  for  him,  he  brought  his  disease 

hither:   here  he  does  but  repair  it.     I  know  he 

will  come  in  our  shadow,  to  scatter  his  crowns 

in  the  sun. 
Boult.  Well,  if  w^e  had  of  every  nation  a  traveller,  we 

should  lodge  them  with  this  sign. 
8^ 


Act  IV.  Sc.  ii.  PERICLES, 

Bawd.  Pray  you,   come  hither  awhile.      You  have 

fortunes  coming  upon  you.  Mark  me:  you  I20 
must  seem  to  do  that  fearfully  which  you  con- 
mit  willingly,  despise  profit  where  you  have 
most  gain.  To  weep  that  you  live  as  yc  do 
makes  pity  in  your  lovers :  seldom  but  that  pity 
begets  you  a  good  opinion,  and  that  opinion  a 
mere  profit. 

Mar.  I  understand  you  not. 

Boiilt.  O,  take  her  home,  mistress,  take  her  home: 
these  blushes  of  hers  must  be  quenched  with 
some  present  practice.  130 

Bazud.  Thou  sayest  true,  i'  faith,  so  they  must ;  for 
your  bride  goes  to  that  with  shame  which  is  her 
way  to  go  with  warrant. 

Bonlt.  Faith,  some  do,  and  some  do  not.  But,  mis- 
tress, if  I  have  bargained  for  the  joint, — 

Bazvd.  Thou  mayst  cut  a  morsel  ofif  the  spit. 

Bonlt.  I  may  so. 

Bawd.  Who  should  deny  it?  Come,  young  one,  I 
like  the  manner  of  your  garments  well. 

Bordt.  Ay,  by  my  faith,  they  shall  not  be  changed  yet.   140 

Bazvd.  Boult,  spend  thou  that  in  the  town :  report 
what  a  sojourner  we  have ;  you  '11  lose  nothing 
by  custom.  When  nature  framed  this  piece, 
she  meant  thee  a  good  turn  ;  therefore  say  what 
a  paragon  she  is,  and  thou  hast  the  harvest  out 
of  thine  own  report. 

Boult.  I  warrant  you,  mistress,  thunder  shall  not  so 
awake  the  beds  of  eels  as  my  giving  out  her 
beauty  stir  up  the  lewdly-inciined.  I  '11  bring 
home  some  to-night.  150 

82 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  IV.  Sc.  iii. 

Bazi'd.  Come  your  ways  ;   follow  me. 

Mar.  If  fires  be  hot,  knives  sharp,  or  waters  deep, 

Untied  I  still  my  virgin  knot  will  keep. 

Diana,  aid  my  purpose ! 
Bawd.  What  have  we  to  do  with  Diana  ?     Pray  you, 

will  you  go  with  us  ?  [Exeunt. 

Scene  III. 

Tarsus.     A  rooui  in  the  Governors  house. 
Enter  Clean  and  Dion  yea. 

Dion.  Why,  are  you  foolish?     Can  it  be  undone? 

Cle.  O  Dionyza,  such  a  piece  of  slaughter 
The  sun  and  moon  ne'er  looked  upon ! 

Dion.  I  think 

You  '11  turn  a  child  again. 

Cle.  Were  I  chief  lord  of  all  this  spacious  world, 
I  'Id  give  it  to  undo  the  deed.     O  lady. 
Much  less  in  blood  than  virtue,  yet  a  princess 
To  equal  any  single  crown  o'  the  earth 
I'  the  justice  of  compare!     O  villain  Leonine! 
Whom  thou  hast  poison'd  too  :  lo 

If  thou  hadst  drunk  to  him,  't  had  been  a  kindness 
Becoming  well  thy  fact:   what  canst  thou  say 
When  noble  Pericles  shall  demand  his  child? 

Dion.  That  she  is  dead.     Nurses  are  not  the  fates. 
To  foster  it,  nor  ever  to  preserve. 
She  died  at  night :   I  '11  say  so.     Who  can  cross  it? 
Unless  you  play  the  pious  innocent. 
And  for  an  honest  attribute  cry  out 
*  She  died  by  foul  play.' 

Cle,  O,  go  to.     Well,  well, 

S3 


Act  IV.  Sc.  iii.  PERICLES, 

Of  all  the  faults  beneath  the  heavens,  the  gods       20 
Do  like  this  worst. 

Dion.  Be  one  of  those  that  think 

The  pretty  wrens  of  Tarsus  will  fly  hence 
And  open  this  to  Pericles.     I  do  shame 
To  think  of  what  a  noble  strain  you  are 
And  of  how  coward  a  spirit. 

Clc,  To  such  proceeding 

Who  ever  but  his  approbation  added, 
Though  not  his  prime  consent,  he  did  not  flow 
From  honourable  sources. 

Dion.  Be  it  so,  then  : 

Yet  none  does  know,  but  you,  how  she  came  dead, 
Nor  none  can  know,  Leonine  being  gone.  30 

She  did  distain  my  child,  and  stood  between 
Her  and  her  fortunes :  none  would  look  on  her, 
But  cast  their  gazes  on  Marina's  face ; 
Whilst  ours  was  blurted  at,  and  held  a  malkin. 
Not  worth  the  time  of  day.     It  pierced  me  thorough  ; 
And  though  you  call  my  course  unnatural, 
You  not  your  child  well  loving,  yet  I  find 
It  greets  me  as  an  enterprise  of  kindness 
Perform'd  to  your  sole  daughter. 

Clc.  Heavens  forgive  it ! 

Dion.  And  as  for  Pericles,  40 

What  should  he  say  ?     We  wept  after  her  hearse, 
And  yet  we  mourn:    her  monument 
Is  almost  finished,  and  her  epitaphs 
In  glittering  golden  characters  express 
A  general  praise  to  her,  and  care  in  us 
At  whose  expense  'tis  done. 

Clc,  Thou  art  like  the  harpy, . 

84 


PRINCE^OF  TYRE  Act  IV.  Sc.  iv. 

Which,  to  betray,  dost,  with  thine  angel's  face, 
Seize  with  thine  eagle's  talons. 

Dioji.  You  are  like  one  that  siiperstitiously 

Doth  swear  to  the  gods  that  winter  kills  the  flies :     50 
But  yet  I  know  you  '11  do  as  I  advise.  [Exeunt. 

Scene  IV. 

Enter  Gower,  before  the  monument  of  Marina  at  Tarsus. 

Gozv.  Thus  time  we  waste,  and  longest  leagues  make  short ; 
Sail  seas  in  cockles,  have  and  wish  but  for  't ; 
Making,  to  take  our  imagination, 
From  bourn  to  bourn,  region  to  region. 
By  you  being  pardon'd,  we  commit  no  crime 
To  use  one  language  in  each  several  clime 
Where    our    scenes    seem    to    live.     I    do    beseech 

you 
To  learn  of  me,  who  stand  i'  the  gaps  to  teach  you 
The  stages  of  our  story.    Pericles 
Is  now  again  thwarting  the  wayward  seas,  10 

Attended  on  by  many  a  lord  and  knight, 
To  see  his  daughter,  all  his  life's  delight. 
Old  Helicanus  goes  along ;  behind 
Is  left  to  govern  it,  you  bear  in  mind 
Old  Escanes,  whom  Helicanus  late 
Advanced  in  time  to  great  and  high  estate. 
Well-sailing  ships  and  bounteous  winds  have  brought 
This  king  to  Tarsus, — think  his  pilot  thought : 
So  with  his  steerage  shall  your  thoughts  grow  on, — 
To  fetch  his  daughter  home,  who  first  is  gone.         20 
Like  motes  and  shadows  see  them  move  awhile ; 
Your  ears  unto  your  eyes  I  '11  reconcile. 

85 


Act  IV.  Sc.  iv.  PERICLES. 

Dumb  Show. 

Enter  Pericles  at  one  door,  with  all  his  train;  Cleon  and 
Dionyza  at  the  other.  Cleon  shozvs  Pericles  the  tomb; 
whereat  Pericles  snakes  lamentation,  puts  on  sack- 
cloth, and  in  a  mighty  passion  departs.  Then  exeunt 
Cleon,  Dionyza,  and  the  rest. 

See  how  belief  may  suffer  by  foul  show ! 

This  borrow'd  passion  stands  for  true  old  woe ; 

And  Pericles,  in  sorrow  all  devour'd, 

With   sighs   shot  through   and  biggest  tears   o'er- 

shower'd, 
Leaves  Tarsus  and  again  embarks.    He  swears 
Never  to  wash  his  face,  nor  cut  his  hairs  : 
He  puts  on  sackcloth,  and  to  sea.    He  bears 
A  tempest,  which  his  mortal  vessel  tears,  30 

And  yet  he  rides  it  out.    Now  please  you  wit 
The  epitaph  is  for  Marina  writ 
By  wicked  Dionyza. 

[Reads  the  inscription  on  Marina's  monument. 

'  The  fairest,  sweet'st  and  best,  lies  here, 

Who  wither'd  in  her  spring  of  year. 

She  was  of  Tyrus  the  king's  daughter. 

On  whom  foul  death  hath  made  this  slaughter ; 

Marina  was  she  call'd  ;  and  at  her  birth, 

Thetis,  being  proud,  swallow'd  some  part  o'  the  earth : 

Therefore  the  earth,  fearing  to  be  o'erflow'd,  40 

Hath  Thetis'  birth-child  on  the  heavens  bestow'd : 

Wherefore  she  does,  and  swears  she  '11  never  stint, 

Make  raging  battery  upon  shores  of  flint.' 

No  visor  does  become  black  villany 
So  well  as  soft  and  tender  flattery. 

86 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  IV.  Sc.  v.=vi. 

Let  Pericles  believe  his  daughter  's  dead, 

And  bear  his  courses  to  be  ordered 

By  Lady  Fortune ;   while  our  scene  must  play 

His  daughter's  woe  and  heavy  well-a-day 

In  her  unholy  service.     Patience,  then,  50 

And  think  you  now  are  all  in  Mytilene.  [Exit. 

Scene  V. 

Mytilene.     A  street  before  the  brothel. 
Enter,  from  the  brothel,  tzvo  Gentlemen. 

First  Gent.  Did  you  ever  hear  the  like  ? 

See.  Gent.  No,  nor  never  shall  do  in  such  a  place  as 
this,  she  being  once  gone. 

First  Gent.  But  to  have  divinity  preached  there !    did 
you  ever  dream  of  such  a  thing? 

See.  Gent.  No,  no.     Come,  I  am  for  no  more  bawdy- 
houses  :  shall 's  go  hear  the  vestals  sing  ? 

First  Gent.  I  '11  do  any  thing  now  that  is  virtuous ; 

but  I  am  out  of  the  road  of  rutting  for  ever.  10 

[Exeunt. 

Scene  VL 

The  same.     A  room  in  the  brothel. 
Enter  Pandar,  Bazvd,  and  Boiilt. 

Pand.  Well,  I  had  rather  than  twice  the  worth  of  her 

she  had  ne'er  come  here. 
Bazvd.  Fie,  fie  upon  her !    she  's  able  to  freeze  the 

god  Priapus,  and  undo  a  whole  generation.     We 

must  either  get  her  ravished  or  be  rid  of  her. 

When  she  should  do  for  clients  her  fitment  and 

87 


Act  IV.  Sc.  vi.  PERICLES, 

do  me  the  kindness  of  our  profession,  she  has  me 
her  quirks,  her  reasons,  her  master  reasons,  her 
prayers,  her  knees ;  that  she  would  make  a  puri- 
tan of  the  devil,  if  he  should  cheapen  a  kiss  of 
her.  10 

Boult.  Faith,  I  must  ravish  her,  or  she  '11  disfurnish 
us  of  all  our  cavaliers  and  make  all  our  swearers 
priests. 

Pand,  Now,  the  pox  upon  her  green-sickness  for  me  ! 

Bawd.  Faith,  there  's  no  way  to  be  rid  on  't  but  by 
the  way  to  the  pox.  Here  comes  the  Lord 
Lysimachus  disguised. 

Bonlt.  We  should  have  both  lord  and  lown,  if  the 
peevish  baggage  would  but  give  way  to  cus- 
tomers. 20 

Enter  Lysimachus. 

Lys.  How  now!     How  a  dozen  of  virginities? 
Bawd.  Now,  the  gods  to-bless  your  honour ! 
Boidt.  I  am  glad  to  see  your  honour  in  good  health. 
Lys.  You  may  so ;    'tis  the  better  for  you  that  your 

resorters   stand   upon    sound   legs.     How   now, 

wholesome  iniquity  have  you  that  a  man  may 

deal  withal  and  defy  the  suro-eon  ? 
Bawd.  We   have   here   one,   sir,    if   she   would — but 

there  never  came  her  like  in  ]\Iytilene. 
L\s.  If  she  'Id  do  the  deed  of  darkness,  thou  wouldst     30 

say. 
Bazi'd.  Your  honour   knows   what   'tis   to   say   well 

enough. 
Lys.  Well,  call  forth,  call  forth. 
Bonlt.  For  flesh  and  blood,  sir,  white  and  red,  you 

shall  see  a  rose ;    and  she  were  a  rose  indeed, 

if  she  had  but — 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  IV.  Sc.  vi. 

Lys.  What,  prithee? 

Boitlt.  O,  sir,  I  can  be  modest.  40 

Lys.  That  dignifies  the  renown  of  a  bawd,  no  less 
than  it  gives  a  good  report  to  a  number  to  be 
chaste.  [Exit  Boiilt. 

Bazcd.  Here  comes  that  which  grows  to  the  stalk; 
never  plucked  yet,  I  can  assure  you. 

Re-enter  Boult  zcith  Marina. 

Is  she  not  a  fair  creature? 
Lys.  Faith,  she  would  serve  after  a  long  voyage  at 

sea.     \\'ell,  there  's  for  you  :    leave  us. 
BaiccL   I  beseech  your  honour,  give  me  leave  :   a  word, 

and  I  '11  have  done  presently. 
Lys.  I  beseech  you,  do.  50 

Bazvd.    [To  Marina]    First,  I  would  have  you  note, 

this  is  an  honourable  man. 
Mar.   I   desire  to  find  him  so,  that  I  may  worthily 

note  him. 
Bazcd.   Next,  he  's  the  governor  of  this  country,  and 

a  man  whom  I  am  bound  to. 
Mar.  If  he  govern  the  country,  you  are  bound  to 

him  indeed ;    but  how  honourable  he  is  in  that, 

I  know  not. 
Bazcd.  Pray  you,  without  any  more  virginal  fencing,     60 

will  you  use  him  kindly?     He   will   line  your 

apron  with  gold. 
Mar.  What  he  will  do  graciously,  I  will  thankfully 

receive. 
Lys.  Ha'  you  done? 
Bawd.  My  lord,  she  's  not  paced  yet :   you  must  take 

some  pains  to  work  her  to  your  manage.     Come, 


Act  IV.  Sc.  vi.  PERICLES, 

we  will  leave  his  honour  and  her  together.     Go 
thy  ways.  [Esciiut  Bazi'd,  Pandar,  and  Botilt. 

Lys.  Now,  pretty  one,  how  long  have  you  been  at     70 
this  trade? 

Mar.  \Miat  trade,  sir? 

Lys.  Why,  I  cannot  name  't  but  I  shall  offend. 

Mar.  I  cannot  be  offended  with  my  trade.  Please 
you  to  name  it. 

Lys.  How  long  have  you  been  of  this  profession  ? 

Mar.  E'er  since  I  can  remember. 

Lys.  Did  you  go  to  it  so  young?  Were  you  a  game- 
ster at  five  or  at  seven  ? 

Mar.  Earlier  too,  sir,  if  now  I  be  one.  80 

Lys.  Why,  the  house  you  dwell  in  proclaims  you  to 
be  a  creature  of  sale. 

Mar.  Do  you  know  this  house  to  be  a  place  of  such 
resort,  and  will  come  into  't  ?  I  hear  say  you 
are  of  honourable  parts  and  are  the  governor  of 
this  place. 

Lys.  Why,  hath  your  principal  made  known  unto  you 
who  I  am? 

Mar.  Who  is  my  principal? 

Lys.  Why,  your  herb-woman ;  she  that  sets  seeds  90 
and  roots  of  shame  and  iniquity.  O,  you  have 
heard  something  of  my  power,  and  so  stand 
aloof  for  more  serious  wooing.  But  I  protest  to 
thee,  pretty  one,  my  authority  shall  not  see  thee, 
or  else  look  friendly  upon  thee.  Come,  bring 
me  to  some  private  place :   come,  come. 

Mar.  If  you  were  born  to  honour,  show  it  now; 
If  put  upon  you,  make  the  judgement  good 
That  thought  you  worthy  of  it. 

90 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  IV.  Sc.  vi. 

Lys.  How  's  this?  how  's  this?  Some  more;  be  sage.  lOO 

Mar.  For  me 

That  am  a  maid,  though  most  ungentle  fortune 
Have  placed  me  in  this  sty,  where,  since  I  came, 
Diseases  have  been  sold  dearer  than  physic, 
O,  that  the  gods 

Would  set  me  free  from  this  unhallow'd  place. 
Though  they  did  change  me  to  the  meanest  bird 
That  flies  i'  the  purer  air ! 

Lys.  I  did  not  think 

Thou  couldst  have  spoke  so  well ;  ne'er  dream'd  thou 

couldst. 
Had  I  brought  hither  a  corrupted  mind,  no 

Thy  speech  had  alter'd  it.     Hold,  here  's  gold  for 

thee : 
Persever  in  that  clear  way  thou  goest, 
And  the  gods  strengthen  thee  ! 

Mar.  The  good  gods  preserve  you ! 

Lys.  For  me,  be  you  thoughten 

That  I  came  with  no  ill  intent ;  for  to  me 

The  very  doors  and  windows  savour  vilely. 

Fare  thee  well.    Thou  art  a  piece  of  virtue,  and 

I  doubt  not  but  thy  training  hath  been  noble. 

Hold,  here  's  more  gold  for  thee.  120 

A  curse  upon  him,  die  he  like  a  thief. 

That  robs  thee  of  thy  goodness  !    If  thou  dost 

Hear  from  me,  it  shall  be  for  thy  good. 

Rc-cntcr  Boiilt. 

Boult.  I  beseech  your  honour,  one  piece  for  me. 
Lys.  Avaunt,  thou  damned  door-keeper ! 

Your  house,  but  for  this  virgin  that  doth  prop  it, 

91 


Act  IV.  Sc.  VI.  PERICLES. 

Would  sink,  and  overwhelm  you.   Away !  [Exit. 

Boiilt.  How  's  this  ?     ^\'e  must  take  another  course 
with  you.     If  your  peevish  chastity,  which  is  not 
worth  a  breakfast  in  the  cheapest  country  under  130 
the  cope,  shall  undo  a  whole  household,  let  me 
be  gelded  like  a  spaniel.     Come  your  ways. 

Mar.  Whither  w^ould  you  have  me  ? 

Boult.  I  must  have  your  maidenhead  taken  of¥,  or  the 
common  hangman  shall  execute  it.  Come  your 
ways.  We  '11  have  no  more  gentlemen  driven 
away.     Come  your  ways,  I  say. 

Re-enter  Baivd. 

Bazvd.  How  now  !  what 's  the  matter  ? 

Boult.  Worse  and   worse,   mistress ;    she  has   here 

spoken  holy  words  to  the  Lord  Lysimachus.  140 

Bawd.  O  abominable ! 
Boult.  She  makes  our  profession  as  it  were  to  stink 

afore  the  face  of  the  gods. 
Baii'd.  Marry,  hang  her  up  for  ever ! 
Boult.  The  nobleman  would  have  dealt  with  her  Hke 

a  nobleman,  and  she  sent  him  away  as  cold  as  a 

snowball,  saying  his  prayers  too. 
Bawd.  Boult,  take  her  away ;  use  her  at  thy  pleasure : 

crack  the  glass  of  her  virginity,  and  make  the 

rest  malleable.  150 

Boult.  An  if  she  were  a  thornier  piece  of  ground 

than  she  is,  she  shall  be  ploughed. 
Mar.  Hark,  hark,  you  gods  ! 
Bawd.  She  conjures:    away  with  her!     Would  she 

had  never  come  within  my  doors !   Marry,  hang 

you !    She  's  born  to  undo  us.     Will  you  not  go 

92 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  IV.  Sc.  v 

the  way  of  women-kind?    ^larry,  come  up,  my 
dish  of  chastity  with  rosemary  and  bays  !  [E.vit. 

Boult.  Come,  mistress;  come  your  ways  with  me. 

Mar.  Whither  wilt  thou  have  me?  i6o 

Boult.  To  take  from  you  the  jewel  you  hold  so  dear. 

Mar.  Prithee,  tell  me  one  thing  first. 

Boult.  Come  now,  your  one  thing. 

Mar.  What  canst  thou  wish  thine  enemy  to  be  ? 

Boult.  Why,  I  could  wish  him  to  be  my  master,  or 
rather,  my  mistress. 

Mar.  Neither  of  these  are  so  bad  as  thou  art. 
Since  they  do  better  thee  in  their  command. 
Thou  hold'st  a  place,  for  which  the  pained'st  fiend 
Of  hell  would  not  in  reputation  change :  170 

Thou  art  the  damned  door-keeper  to  every 
Coistrel  that  comes  inquiring  for  his  Tib  ; 
To  the  choleric  fisting  of  every  rogue 
Thy  ear  is  liable ;   thy  food  is  such 
As  hath  been  belch'd  on  by  infected  lungs. 

Boult.  What  would  you  have  me  do?   go  to  the  wars, 
would  you  ?  where  a  man  may  serve  seven  years 
for  the  loss  of  a  leg,  and  have  not  money  enough 
in  the  end  to  buy  him  a  wooden  one? 

Mar.  Do  any  thing  but  this  thou  doest.    Empty  180 

Old  receptacles,  or  common  shores,  of  filth ; 
Serve  by  indenture  to  the  common  hangman : 
Any  of  these  ways  are  yet  better  than  this ; 
For  what  thou  professest,  a  baboon,  could  he  speak. 
Would  own  a  name  too  dear.    O,  that  the  gods 
Would  safely  deliver  me  from  this  place ! 
Here,  here  's  gold  for  thee. 
If  that  thy  master  would  gain  by  me, 

93  * 


Act  V.  PERICLES, 

Proclaim  that  I  can  sing,  weave,  sew,  and  dance. 
With  other  virtues,  which  I  '11  keep  from  boast ;     190 
And  I  Vv'ill  undertake  all  these  to  teach. 
I  doubt  not  but  this  populous  city  will 
Yield  many  scholars. 

Boidt.  But  can  you  teach  all  this  you  speak  of? 

Mar.  Prove  that  I  cannot,  take  me  home  again, 
And  prostitute  me  to  the  basest  groom 
That  doth  frequent  your  house. 

Boult.  Well,  I  will  see  what  I  can  do  for  thee:  if 
I  can  place  thee,  I  will. 

Mar.  But  amongst  honest  women.  200 

Boult.  Faith,  my  acquaintance  lies  little  amongst 
them.  But  since  my  master  and  mistress  have 
bought  you,  there  's  no  going  but  by  their  con- 
sent: therefore  I  will  make  them  acquainted 
with  your  purpose,  and  I  doubt  not  but  I  shall 
find  them  tractable  enough.  Come,  I  '11  do  for 
thee  what  I  can ;   come  your  ways.  [Exeunt. 


ACT  FIFTH. 

Enter  Gozver. 

Cow.  Marina  thus  the  brothel  'scapes,  and  chances 
Into  an  honest  house,  our  story  says. 
She  sings  like  one  immortal,  and  she  dances 
As  goddess-like  to  her  admired  lays ; 
Deep  clerks  she  dumbs,  and  with  her  needle  composes 
Nature's  own  shape,  of  bud,  bird,  branch,  or  berry, 
That  even  her  art  sisters  the  natural  roses ; 

-94 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Ker  inkle,  silk,  twin  with  the  rubied  cherry : 

That  pupils  lacks  she  none  of  noble  race, 

Who  pour  their  bounty  on  her,  and  her  gain  lo 

She  gives  the  cursed  bawd.     Here  we  her  place ; 

And  to  her  father  turn  our  thoughts  again, 

Where  we  left  him,  on  the  sea.     We  there  him  lost : 

Whence,  driven  before  the  winds,  he  is  arrived 

Here  where  his  daughter  dwells  ;  and  on  this  coast 

Suppose  him  now  at  anchor.     The  city  strived 

God  Neptune's  annual  feast  to  keep :   from  whence 

Lysimachus  our  Tyrian  ship  espies. 

His  banners  sable,  trimm'd  with  rich  expense ; 

And  to  him  in  his  barge  with  fervour  hies.  20 

In  your  supposing  once  more  put  your  sight 

Of  heavy  Pericles  ;  think  this  his  bark  : 

Where  w^hat  is  done  in  action,  more,  if  might, 

Shall  be  discover'd ;   please  you,  sit,  and  hark. 

[Exit. 

Scene  I. 

On  board  Pericles'  ship,  off  Mytilene.  A  close  pavilion 
on  deck,  zvith  a  curtain  before  it;  Pericles  zvithin  it, 
reclined  on  a  conch.  A  barge  lying  beside  the  Tyr- 
ian vessel. 

Enter  two  sailors,  one  belonging  to  the  Tyrian  vessel,  the 
other  to  the  barge ;   to  them  Helicanus. 

Tyr.  Sail.   [To  the  Sailor  of  Mytilene]     Where  is  Lord 
Helicanus  ?  he  can  resolve  you. 

O,  here  he  is. 

Sir,  there  is  a  barge  put  off  from  Mytilene, 

And  in  it  is  Lysimachus  the  governor, 

Who  craves  to  come  aboard.     What  is  your  will  ? 
Hel.  That  he  have  his.     Call  up  some  gentlemen. 

95 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES, 

Tyr.  SaH.  Ho,  gentlemen !    my  lord  calls. 

Enter  tzvo  or  three  Gentlemen. 

First  Gent.  Doth  your  lordship  call? 

HeL  Gentlemen,  there  is  some  of  worth  would  come 

aboard  ;   I  pray,  greet  him  fairly.  lo 

[The  Gentlemen  and  the  two  Sailors  descend, 

and  go  on  hoard  the  barge. 

Enter  from  thence,  Lysimachus,  and  Lords;  with  the 
Gentlemen  and  the  tzvo  Sailors. 

Tyr.  Sail.   Sir, 

This  is  the  man  that  can,  in  aught  you  would, 

Resolve  you. 
Lys.  Hail,  reverend  sir  !  the  gods  preserve  you  ! 
Hel.  And  you,  sir,  to  outlive  the  age  I  am, 

And  die  as  I  would  do. 
Lys.  You  wish  me  well. 

Being  on  shore,  honouring  of  Neptune's  triumphs, 

Seeing  this  goodly  vessel  ride  before  us, 

I  made  to  it,  to  know  of  whence  you  are. 
Hel.  First,  what  is  your  place?  20 

Lys.  I  am  the  governor  of  this  place  you  lie  before. 
Hel.  Sir, 

Our  vessel  is  of  Tyre,  in  it  the  king ; 

A  man  who  for  this  three  months  hath  not  spoken 

To  any  one,  nor  taken  sustenance 

But  to  prorogue  his  grief. 
Lys.  Upon  what  ground  is  his  distemperature? 
LIcl.  'Twould  be  too  tedious  to  repeat : 

But  the  main  grief  springs  from  the  loss 

Of  a  beloved  daughter  and  a  wife.  30 

96 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Lys.  May  we  not  see  him? 
Hel.  You  may; 

But  bootless  is  your  sight ;   he  will  not  speak 

To  any. 
Lys.  Yet  let  me  obtain  my  wish. 

Hel.  Behold  him.  [Periclcsdiscoz'cred]  This  was  a  goodly 
person, 

Till  the  disaster  that,  one  mortal  night, 

Drove  him  to  this. 
Lys.  Sir  king,  all  hail !   the  gods  preserve  you ! 

Hail,  royal  sir !  40 

Hel.  It  is  in  vain ;  he  will  not  speak  to  you. 
First  Lord.  Sir, 

We  have  a  maid  in  Alytilene,  I  durst  wager, 

Would  win  some  words  of  him. 
Lys.  'Tis  well  bethought. 

She,  questionless,  with  her  sweet  harmony 

And  other  chosen  attractions,  would  allure, 

And  make  a  battery  through  his  deafen'd  parts. 

Which  now  are  midway  stopp'd  : 

She  is  all  happy  as  the  fairest  of  all. 

And  with  her  fellow  maids  is  now  upon  50 

The  leafy  shelter  that  abuts  against 

The  island's  side.       [Whispers  a  Lord,  zvho  goes  off 

in  the  barge  ofLysimachus. 
Hel.  Sure,  all 's  effectless  ;   yet  nothing  we  '11  omit 

That  bears  recovery's  name.    But,  since  your  kindness 

We  have  stretch'd  thus  far,  let  us  beseech  you 

That  for  our  gold  we  may  provision  have, 

Wherein  we  are  not  destitute  for  want. 

But  weary  for  the  staleness. 
Lys.  O,  sir,  a  courtesy 

97 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES, 

Which  if  we  should  deny,  the  most  just  gods 
For  every  graff  would  send  a  caterpillar,  60 

And  so  inflict  our  province.     Yet  once  more 
Let  me  entreat  to  know  at  large  the  cause 
Of  your  king's  sorrow. 
Hel  Sit,  sir,  I  will  recount  it  to  you. 

But,  see,  I  am  prevented. 

Re-enter,  from  the  barge,  Lord,  zvith  Marina,  and 

a  young  Lady. 

• 

Lys.  O,  here  is 

The  lady  that  I  sent  for.     Welcome,  fair  one ! — 
Is  't  not  a  goodly  presence? 

HcL  She  's  a  gallant  lady. 

Lys.   She  's  such  a  one,  that,  were  I  well  assured 
Came  of  a  gentle  kind  and  noble  stock, 
I  'Id  wish  no  better  choice,  and  think  me  rarely  wed. 
Fair  one,  all  goodness  that  consists  in  bounty  70 

Expect  even  here,  where  is  a  kins^ly  patient : 
If  that  thy  prosperous  and  artificial  feat 
Can  draw  him  but  to  answer  thee  in  aught. 
Thy  sacred  physic  shall  receive  such  pay 
As  thy  desires  can  wish. 

Mar.  Sir,  I  will  use 

My  utmost  skill  in  his  recovery,  provided 
That  none  but  I  and  my  companion  maid 
Be  suffer'd  to  come  near  him. 

Lys.  Come,  let  us  leave  her  ; 

And  the  gods  make  her  prosperous !      [Marina  sings. 

Lys.   idark'd  he  your  music? 

Mar.  No,  nor  look'd  on  us.  81 

Lys.   See,  she  will  speak  to  him. 

98 


PRINCE  or  TYRE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Mar.  Hail,  sir!   my  lord,  lend  ear. 

Fcr.  Hum,  ha ! 

Mar.  I  am  a  maid, 

My  lord,  that  ne'er  before  invited  eyes. 

But  have  been  gazed  on  like  a  comet :  she  speaks, 

My  lord,  that,  may  be,  hath  endured  a  grief 

Might  equal  yours,  if  both  were  justly  weigh'd. 

Though  wayward  fortune  did  malign  my  state,        90 

My  derivation  was  from  ancestors 

Who  stood  equivalent  with  mighty  kings : 

But  time  hath  rooted  out  my  parentage, 

And  to  the  world  and  awkward  casualties 

Bound  me  in  servitude.   [Aside}   I  will  desist; 

But  there  is  something  glows  upon  my  cheek. 

And  whispers  in  mine  ear  '  Go  not  till  he  speak.' 

Per.  My  fortune — parentage — good  parentage — 

To  equal  mine  ! — was  it  not  thus  ?   what  say  you  ? 

Mar.  I  said,  my  lord,  if  you  did  know  my  parentage, 

You  would  not  do  me  violence.  loi 

Per.  I  do  think  so.     Pray  you,  turn  your  eyes  upon  me. 
You  are  like  something  that — What  countrywoman? 
Here  of  these  shores  ? 

Mar.  No,  nor  of  any  shores : 

Yet  I  was  mortally  brought  forth,  and  am 
No  other  than  I  appear. 

Per.  I  am  great  with  woe,  and  shall  deliver  weeping. 
My  dearest  wife  was  like  this  maid,  and  such  a  one 
My  daughter  might  have  been  :   my  queen's  square 

brows ; 
Her  stature  to  an  inch  ;  as  wand-like  straight,       no 
As  silver-voiced;  her  eyes  as  jewel-like 
And  cased  as  richly ;  in  pace  another  Juno ; 

99 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES, 

Who  starves  the  ears   she  feeds,   and  makes  them 

hungry, 
The  more  she  gives  them  speech.  Where  do  >'ou  hve  ? 

Alar.  Where  I  am  but  a  stranger :  from  the  deck 
You  may  discern  the  place. 

Per.  Where  were  you  bred  ? 

And  how  achieved  you  these  endowments,  which 
You  make  more  rich  to  owe  ? 

Mar.  If  I  should  tell  my  history,  it  would  seem 
Like  lies  disdain'd  in  the  reporting. 

Per.  Prithee,  speak  :     1 20 

Falseness  cannot  come  from  thee  ;  for  thou  look'st 
Modest  as  Justice,  and  thou  seem'st  a  palace 
For  the  crown'd  Truth  to  dwell  in  :  I  will  believe  thee, 
And  make  my  senses  credit  thy  relation 
To  points  that  seem  impossible ;  for  thou  look'st 
Like  one  I  loved  indeed.     What  were  thv  friends? 
Didst  thou  not  say,  when  I  did  push  thee  back — 
Which  was  when  I  perceived  thee — that  thou  camest 
From  good  descending? 

Alar.  So  indeed  I  did. 

Per.  Report  thy  parentage,     I  think  thou  said'st  130 

Thou  hadst  been  toss'd  from  wrong  to  injury. 
And  that  thou  thought'st  thy  griefs  might  equal  mine 
If  both  were  open'd. 

Alar.  Some  such  thing 

I  said,  and  said  no  more  but  what  my  thoughts 
Did  warrant  me  was  likely. 

Per.  Tell  thy  story  ; 

If  thine  consider'd  prove  the  thousandth  part 
Of  my  endurance,  thou  art  a  man,  and  I 
Have  suffer'd  like  a  girl :  yet  thou  dost  look 
100 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Like  Patience  gazing  on  kings'  graves  and  smiling 

Extremity  out  of  act.    What  were  thy  friends  ?      140 

How  lost  thou  them?     Thy  name,   my  most  kind 
virgin  ? 

Recount,  I  do  beseech  thee :   come,  sit  by  me, 
Mar.  My  name  is  INIarina. 
Per.  O,  I  am  mock'd. 

And  thou  by  some  incensed  god  sent  hither 

To  make  the  world  to  laugh  at  me. 
Mar.  Patience,  good  sir, 

Or  here  I  '11  cease. 
Per.  Nay,  I  '11  be  patient. 

Thou  little  know'st  how  thou  dost  startle  me, 

To  call  thyself  Marina. 
Mar.  The  name 

W^as  given  me  by  one  that  had  some  power,  150 

My  father,  and  a  king. 
Per.  How  !  a  king's  daughter  ? 

And  call'd  Marina  ? 
Mar.  You  said  you  would  believe  me ; 

But,  not  to  be  a  troubler  of  your  peace, 

I  will  end  here. 
Per.  But  are  you  flesh  and  blood  ? 

Have  you  a  working  pulse  ?  and  are  no  fairy  ? 

Motion  !     Well ;   speak  on.     Where  were  you  born  ? 

And  wherefore  call'd  Marina? 
Mar.  Call'd  Alarina 

For  I  was  bom  at  sea. 
Per,  At  sea !  what  mother  ? 

Mar,  My  mother  was  the  daughter  of  a  king ; 

Who  died  the  minute  I  was  born,  160 

As  my  good  nurse  Lychorida  hath  oft 

lOI 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES, 

Deliver'd  weeping. 

Per.  O,  stop  there  a  little ! 

[Aside]   This  is  the  rarest  dream  that  e'er  dull  sleep 
Did  mock  sad  fools  withal :  this  cannot  be : 
My  daughter  's  buried. — Well :  where  were  you  bred  ? 
I  '11  hear  you  more,  to  the  bottom  of  your  story, 
And  never  interrupt  you. 

Mar.  You  scorn :  believe  me,  'twere  best  I  did  give  o'er. 

Per.  I  will  believe  you  by  the  syllable 

Of  what  you  shall  deliver.     Yet,  give  me  leave :     170 
How  came  you  in  these  parts  ?  where  were  you  bred  ? 

Mar.  The  king  my  father  did  in  Tarsus  leave  me  ; 
Till  cruel  Cleon,  with  his  wicked  wife. 
Did  seek  to  murder  me  :  and  having  woo'd 
A  villain  to  attempt  it,  who  having  drawn  to  do  't, 
A  crew  of  pirates  came  and  rescued  me ; 
Brought  me  to  Mytilene.    But,  good  sir, 
Whither  will  you  have  me?     Why  do  you   weep? 

It  may  be. 
You  think  me  an  impostor  :  no,  good  faith  ; 
I  am  the  daughter  to  King  Pericles,  180 

If  good  King  Pericles  be. 

Per.  Ho,  Helicanus ! 

Hel.  Calls  my  lord? 

Per.  Thou  art  a  grave  and  noble  counsellor. 

Most  wise  in  general :  tell  me,  if  thou  canst, 
What  this  maid  is,  or  what  is  like  to  be, 
That  thus  hath  made  me  weep. 

Hel.  I  know  not ;  but 

Here  is  the  regent,  sir,  of  Alytilene 
Speaks  nobly  of  her. 

Lys.  She  never  would  tell 

102 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Her  parentage ;  being  demanded  that,  190 

She  would  sit  still  and  weep. 

Per.  O  Helicanus,  strike  me,  honour'd  sir ; 
Give  me  a  gash,  put  me  to  present  pain ; 
Lest  this  great  sea  of  joys  rushing  upon  me 
O'erbear  the  shores  of  my  mortality, 
And  drown  me  with  their  sweetness.    O,  come  hither. 
Thou  that  beget'st  him  that  did  thee  beget ; 
Thou  that  wast  born  at  sea,  buried  at  Tarsus, 
And  found  at  sea  again  !    O  Helicanus, 
Down  en  thy  knees ;   thank  the  holy  gods  as  loud 
As  thunder  threatens  us  :  this  is  Marina.  201 

What  was  thy  mother's  name  ?  tell  me  but  that. 
For  truth  can  never  be  confirm'd  enough, 
Though  doubts  did  ever  sleep. 

Mar.  First,  sir,  I  pray,  what  is  your  title  ? 

Per.  I 

Am  Pericles  of  Tyre  :  but  tell  me  now 
My  drown'd  queen's  name,  as  in  the  rest  you  said 
Thou  hast  been  godlike  perfect,  the  heir  of  kingdoms. 
And  another  like  to  Pericles  thy  father.  210 

Mar.  Is  it  no  more  to  be  your  daughter  than 
To  say  my  mother's  name  vras  Thaisa  ? 
Thaisa  was  my  mother,  who  did  end 
The  minute  I  began. 

Per.  Now,  blessing  on  thee !    rise ;   thou  art  my  child. 
Give  me  fresh  garments.    Mine  own,  Helicanus  : 
She  is  not  dead  at  Tarsus,  as  she  should  have  been. 
By  savage  Cleon  :  she  shall  tell  thee  all ; 
When  thou  shalt  kneel,  and  justify  in  knowledge 
She  is  thy  very  princess.     Who  is  this  ?  220 

Hel.  Sir,  'tis  the  governor  of  Mytilene, 

103 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  PERICLES, 

Who,  hearing  of  your  melancholy  state, 
Did  come  to  see  you. 
Per.  I  embrace  you. 

Give  me  my  robes.    I  am  wild  in  my  beholding. 

0  heavens  bless  my  girl !     But,  hark,what  music? 
Tell  Helicanus,  my  Marina,  tell  him 

O'er,  point  by  point,  for  yet  he  seems  to  doubt, 

How  sure  you  are  my  daughter.     But,  what  music  ? 
Hcl.  My  lord,  I  hear  none.. 
Per.  None!  230 

The  music  of  the  spheres  !     List,  my  Marina. 
Lys.  It  is  not  good  to  cross  him ;   give  him  way. 
Per.  Rarest  sounds  !    Do  ye  not  hear  ? 
Lys.  My  lord,  I  hear. 

[Music. 
Per.  Most  heavenly  music ! 

It  nips  me  ynto  listening,  and  thick  slumber 

Hangs  upon  mine  eyes  :  let  me  rest.  [Sleeps. 

Lys.  A  pillow  for  his  head : 

So,  leave  him  all.     Well,  my  companion  friends. 

If  this  but  answer  to  my  just  belief, 

1  '11  well  remember  you.  240 

[EA'euut  all  but  Perieles. 

Diana  appears  to  Pericles  in  a  z'ision. 

Dia.  My  temple  stands  in  Ephesus :   hie  thee  thither. 
And  do  upon  mine  altar  sacrifice. 
There,  ^¥hen  my  maiden  priests  are  met  together, 
Before  the  people  all. 

Reveal  how  thou  at  sea  didst  lose  thy  wife : 
To  mourn  thy  crosses,  with  thy  daughter's  call, 
And  give  them  repetition  to  the  life. 
104 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  V.  Sc.  ii. 

Or  perform  my  bidding,  or  thou  livest  in  woe ; 
Do  it,  and  happy ;   by  my  silver  bow ! 
Awake,  and  tell  thy  dream.  [Disappears.  250 

Per,  Celestial  Dian,  goddess  argentine, 
I  will  obey  thee.     Helicanus  ! 

Re-enter  Helicanus,  Lysimachns,  and  Marina. 

Hel.  Sir? 

Per.  My  purpose  was  for  Tarsus,  there  to  strike 

The  inhospitable  Cleon ;  but  I  am 

For  other  service  first :   toward  Ephesus 

Turn  our  blown  sails  ;   eftsoons  I  '11  tell  thee  why. 

[To  Lysijuachus]    Shall  we  refresh  us,  sir,  upon  your 
shore, 

And  give  you  gold  for  such  provision 

As  our  intents  will  need? 
Lys.  Sir,  260 

With  all  my  heart ;   and,  when  you  come  ashore, 

I  have  another  suit. 
Per.  You  shall  prevail, 

Were  it  to  woo  my  daughter ;   for  it  seems 

You  have  been  noble  towards  her. 
Lys.  Sir,  lend  me  your  arm. 

Per.  Come,  my  Marina.  [Exeiuit. 

Scene  II. 

Enter  Gozver  before  the  temple  of  Diana  at  Ephesus. 

Gozc.  Now  our  sands  are  almost  run ; 
]\Iore  a  little,  and  then  dumb. 
This,  my  last  boon,  give  me, 
For  such  kindness  must  relieve  me, 
That  you  aptly  will  suppose 
What  pageantry,  what  feats,  what  shows, 

105 


Act  V.  Sc.  iii.  PERICLES, 

What  minstrelsy  and  pretty  din, 

The  regent  made  in  Mytilene, 

To  greet  the  king.     So  he  thrived, 

That  he  is  promised  to  be  wived  lo 

To  fair  Marina ;  but  in  no  wise 

Till  he  had  done  his  sacrifice, 

As  Dian  bade :   whereto  being  bound. 

The  interim,  pray  you,  all  confound. 

In  feather'd  briefness  sails  arc  fill'd, 

And  wishes  fall  out  as  they  're  will'd. 

At  Ephesus,  the  temple  see, 

Our  king  and  all  his  company. 

That  he  can  hither  come  so  soon. 

Is  by  your  fancies'  thankful  doom.  [Exit.     20 

Scene  III. 

The  temple  of  Diana  at  Ephesus;  Thaisa  standing  near 
the  altar,  as  high  priestess;  a  number  of  Virgins  on 
each  side;  Ccrinion  and  other  Inhabitants  of  Ephe- 
sus attending. 

Enter  Pericles,  zvith  his  train;   Lysimachus,  Helicanus, 
Marina,  and  a  Lady. 

Per.  Hail,  Dian!    to  perform  thy  just  command, 
I  here  confess  myself  the  king  of  Tyre ; 
Who,  frighted  from  my  country,  did  wed 
At  Pentapolis  the  fair  Thaisa. 
At  sea  in  childbed  died  she,  but  brought  forth 
A  maid-child  call'd  Marina ;    who,  O  goddess. 
Wears  yet  thy  silver  livery.     She  at  Tarsus 
Was  nursed  with  Cleon  ;   who  at  fourteen  years 
He  sought  to  murder :  but  her  better  stars 
Brought  her  to  Alytilene  ;  'gainst  whose  shore  10 

106 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  V.  Sc.  iii. 

Riding,  her  fortunes  brought  the  maid  aboard  us, 

Where,  by  her  own  most  clear  remembrance,  she 

Made  known  herself  my  daughter. 
Thai.  Voice  and  favour! 

You  are,  you  are — O  royal  Pericles  ! —  [Fai7tts. 

Per.  What  means  the  nun  ?   she  dies  !   help,  gentlemen ! 
Cer.  Noble  sir. 

If  you  have  told  Diana's  altar  true, 

This  is  your  wife. 
Per.  Reverend  appearer,  no ; 

I  threw  her  overboard  with  these  very  arms. 
Cer.  Upon  this  coast,  I  warrant  you. 
Per.  Tis  most  certain.       20 

Cer.  Look  to  the  lady.     O,  she  's  but  overjoy'd. 

Early  in  blustering  morn  this  lady  was 

Thrown  upon  this  shore.     I  oped  the  coffin, 

Found  there  rich  jevv^els  ;  recover'd  her,  and  placed  her 

Here  in  Diana's  temple. 
Per.  May  we  see  them? 

Cer.  Great  sir,  they  shall  be  brought  you  to  my  house, 

Whither  I  invite  you.     Look,  Thaisa  is 

Recovered. 
Thai.  O,  let  me  look ! 

If  he  be  none  of  mine,  my  sanctity 

Will  to  my  sense  bend  no  licentious  ear,  30 

But  curb  it,  spite  of  seeing.     O,  my  lord. 

Are  you  not  Pericles  ?     Like  him  you  spake. 

Like  him  you  are :  did  you  not  name  a  tempest, 

A  birth,  and  death? 
Per.  The  voice  of  dead  Thaisa ! 

Thai.  That  Thaisa  am  I,  supposed  dead 

And  drown 'd. 

107 


ActV.Sc.  Hi.  ^      *       PERICLES, 

Per.  Immortal  Dian ! 

Thai,  Now  I  know  you  better. 

When  we  with  tears  parted  Pentapolis, 

The  king  my  father  gave  you  such  a  ring.  39 

[Shows  a  ring. 
Per.  This,  this  :  no  more,  you  gods !  your  present  kindness 

Makes  my  past  miseries  sports :   you  shall  do  well, 

That  on  the  touching  of  her  lips  I  may 

Melt,  and  no  more  be  seen.     O,  come,  be  buried 

A  second  time  within  these  arms. 
Mar.  My  heart 

Leaps  to  be  gone  into  my  mother's  bosom. 

[Kneels  to  Thaisa. 
Per.  Look,  who  kneels  here !     Flesh  of  thy  flesh,  Thaisa ; 

Thy  burden  at  the  sea,  and  call'd  Marina 

For  she  was  yielded  there. 
Thai.  Blest,  and  mine  own ! 

Hel.  Hail,  madam,  and  my  queen ! 
Thai.  I  know  you  not. 

Per.  You  have  heard  me  say,  when  I  did  fly  from  Tyre, 

I  left  behind  an  ancient  substitute:  51 

Can  you  remember  what  I  call'd  the  man  ? 

I  have  named  him  oft. 
Thai.  'Twas  Helicanus  then. 

Per.  Still  confirmation : 

Embrace  him,  dear  Thaisa  ;  this  is  he. 

Now  do  I  long  to  hear  how  you  were  found ; 

How  possibly  preserved ;   and  who  to  thank, 

Besides  the  gods,  for  this  great  miracle. 
Thai.  Lord  Cerimon,  my  lord ;  this  man, 

Through  whom  the  gods  have  shown  their  power: 
that  can  60 

108 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Act  V.  Sc.  iii. 

From  first  to  last  resolve  you. 

Per.  Reverend  sir, 

The  gods  can  have  no  mortal  officer 
More  like  a  god  than  you.     Will  you  deliver 
How  this  dead  queen  re-lives  ? 

Cer.  I  will,  my  lord. 

Beseech  you,  first  go  with  me  to  my  house, 
Where  shall  be  shovvn  you  all  was  found  with  her ; 
How  she  came  placed  here  in  the  temple ; 
No  needful  thing  omitted. 

Per.  Pure  Dian,  bless  thee  for  thy  vision !     I 

Will  ofifer  night-oblations  to  thee.     Thaisa,  70 

This  prince,  the  fair-betrothed  of  your  daughter. 

Shall  marry  her  at  Pentapolis.     And  now, 

This  ornament 

Makes  me  look  dismal  will  I  clip  to  form ; 

And  what  this  fourteen  years  no  razor  touch'd, 

To  grace  thy  marriage-day,  I  '11  beautify. 

Thai.  Lord  Cerimon  hath  letters  of  good  credit,  sir, 
My  father's  dead. 

Per,  Heavens  make  a  star  of  him  !     Yet  there,  my  queen, 
We  '11  celebrate  their  nuptials,  and  ourselves  80 

Will  in  that  kingdom  spend  our  following  days : 
Our  son  and  daughter  shall  in  Tyrus  reign. 
Lord  Cerimon,  we  do  our  longing  stay 
To  hear  the  rest  untold  :    sir,  lead  's  the  way. 

[Exeunt. 

Enter  Gozver. 

Gow.  In  Antiochus  and  his  daughter  you  have  heard 
Of  monstrous  lust  the  due  and  just  reward: 
In  Pericles,  his  queen  and  daughter,  seen, 
109 


Act  V.  Sc.  iii.  PERICLES, 

Although  assail'd  with  fortune  fierce  and  keen, 

Virtue  preserved  from  fell  destruction's  blast, 

Led  on  by  heaven  and  crown'd  with  joy  at  last :       90 

In  Helicanus  may  you  well  descry 

A  figure  of  truth,  of  faith,  of  loyalty : 

In  reverend  Cerimon  there  well  appears 

The  worth  that  learned  charity  aye  wears : 

For  wicked  Cleon  and  his  wife,  when  fame 

Had  spread  their  cursed  deed  and  honour'd  name 

Of  Pericles,  to  rage  the  city  turn, 

That  him  and  his  they  in  his  palace  burn ; 

The  gods  for  murder  seemed  so  content 

To  punish,  although  not  done,  but  meant. 

So,  on  your  patience  evermore  attending,  lOO 

New  joy  wait  on  you !     Here  our  play  has  ending. 

[Exit 


no 


PRINICE  OF  TYRE 


Glossary. 


Absolute,      faultless,      perfect; 

Prol.  IV.  31. 
Account,    accounted    (Quartos. 

''accounted,"      "accounted" ; 

Folios     3,     4,     "counted"); 

Prol.  L  30. 
Address'd,  prepared;  II.  iii.  94. 
Afore  me,  on  my  word,  by  my 

soul ;  a  slight  oath  ;  II.  i.  84. 
Amazement,    confusion,    bewil- 
derment ;  I.  ii.  26. 
Appliance,   appliances ;    III.    ii. 

86. 
Approve,  commend;  II.  i.  55. 
Argentine,    silver   hued;    V.    i. 

251. 
As,  as  if;  Prol.  I.  24;  I.  i.  16. 

,  that ;  I.  ii.  3. 

Attend,  await ;  I.  iv.  79. 
Attend  me,  listen  to  me;  I.  ii. 

70. 
Attribute;  "  an  honest  a.,"  rep- 
utation  for  honesty;   IV.  iii. 

18. 
Avaunt,  out  of  my  sight;   IV. 

vi.  125. 
Awful,  full  of  awe ;   reverent ; 

Prol.  II.  4. 
Awkward,  adverse    (Quarto   i, 

"  augward")  ;  V.  i.  94. 

Bases,  embroidered  skirts 
hung  down  from  the  middle 
to  about  the  knees  or  lower, 


worn  b  y 
knights  on 
h  o  r  s  eback  ; 
II  i.  167. 
(The  a  n  - 
nexed  cut 
is  from  the 
Description 
of  the  Tour- 
nament held 
at  Stuttgart 
in  1609.) 
Beacon;  I.  iv. 
87.  The  sub- 
joined cut 
represents  a 
beacon  pre- 
served on  the  tower  of  Had- 
ley  Church,  Barnet. 


Glossary 


PERICLES, 


Beholding,     beholden;     II.     v. 

25- 
Belching,     vomiting;      III.      i. 

Blown,  swollen  ;  V.  i.  256. 

Blurted  at,  held  in  contempt; 
IV.  iii.  34- 

Bolins,  bowlines ;  III.  i.  43. 

Bonum  quo  antiquius,  eo  meli- 
us; i.e.  a  good  thing  for  be- 
ing old,  the  older  the  better ; 
Prol.  I.   10. 

Bootless,  without  gain,  profit- 
less ;V.i.  33- 

Boots,  avails,  helps ;  I.  ii.  20. 

Bots  on 't,  an  execration ;  II. 
i.  122. 

Brace,  armour  worn  on  the 
arm;  II.  i.  131. 

Braid,  reproach,  upbraid  (Ma- 
lone,  '"braid")  ;  I.  i.  93- 

Breathing,     exercise;     II.     iii. 

lOI. 

Buxom,  lively,  fresh ;  Prol.  I. 
23- 

Ca?z  =  gan  (an  old  auxiliary 
form)  =did;    Prol.    III.    36. 

Gates,  delicacies ;  II.  iii.  29. 

Censure,  opinion ;   II.  iv.  34. 

Chance,  chances  it ;  IV.  i.  23. 

Character,  handwriting;  III. 
iv.  3. 

Cheapen,  bid  for ;  IV.  vi.  10. 

Chequin,  an  Italian  gold  coin 
(Quarto  i,  "  Checkins  "  ; 
Quartos  2,  3.  "  Chickins" : 
Quartos  4,  5,  6,  Folio  3 
"  C  h  ick  e  e  n  s"  ;  Folio  4 
"Chickens")  ;  IV.  ii.  28  (Q 
illustration.) 


From  a  Venetian  specimen  of 
Shakespeare's  era. 

Chiding,  noisy;  III.  i.  32. 

City,  inhabitants  of  the  city, 
citizens ;  V.  iii.  97. 

Clear,  virtuous;  IV.  vi.  113. 

Clerks,  scholars ;  Prol.  V.  5. 

Cockles,  mussel-shells ;  IV. 
iv.  2. 

Coigns,  corners  (Quartos,  Fo- 
lios 3,  4,  "  Crignes")  ;  Prol. 
III.  17. 

Commend,  commendation;  II. 
ii.  49. 

Companion;  "her  mild  c," 
"  the  companion  of  her  mild- 
ness "  (Daniel  conj.  "her 
zvild  c." ;  "in  her  mild  com- 
pany ")  ;  I.  i.  18. 

Conceit,  ability  to  think;  III.  i. 
16. 

Conclusion,  (?)  problem;  I.  i. 
56. 

Conditions_,  disposition;  III.  i. 
29. 

Condolements,  blunder  for 
doles;  II.  i.  154. 

Confound,  waste,  consume;  V. 
ii.   14. 

Consist,  insist ;  I.  iv.  83. 

Conversation,  conduct ;  Prol. 
II.  9. 

Convince,  overcome,  defeat ;  I. 
ii.  123. 


PRINCE  or  TYRE 


Glossary 


Copp'd,  round-topped ;  I.  i.  lOO. 
Countervail,  balance,  equal ;  II. 

iii.  56. 
Cotmtless,  infinite;  I.  i.  31. 
Cunning,  knowledge,  skill ;  III. 

ii.  27. 
Curious,  elegant,  nice;  I.  iv.  43. 

Darks,  darkens,  obscures ;  Prol. 

IV.  35. 

Date,   appointed   term   of    life; 

III.  iv.  14. 
Death-like,  deadly ;  I.  i.  29. 
Deliver,  tell,  relate ;  V.  iii.  63. 
Deliver'd,    told,    related ;    V.    i. 

162. 
Dern,  secret,  dreary ;  Prol.  III. 

15. 
Desire  (trisyllabic)  ;  I.  i.  20. 
Diana's    temple;     III.    iv.     13. 

(This  famous  building  is  well 

represented  in  the  large  brass 

medallion  of  Antoninus  Pius, 

here  facsimiled.) 


Distaiu,  stain    (Steevens  conj.; 

Quartos     and     Folios     3,     4. 

"  disdaine")  ;  IV.  iii.  31. 
Distemperature,  disorder;  V.  i. 

27. 


Dole,  sorrow;  Prol.  III.  42. 
Dooms,    judgment;    Prol.    III. 

Z2. 
Doubt,  suspect ;  I.  ii.  86. 
Doubting,  fearing;  I.  iii.  22. 
Dropping,  dripping  wet;  IV.  i. 

63. 
Dumbs,     makes     dumb;     Prol. 

V.  5. 

Bailing  time,  time  of  delivery; 
III.  iv.  6. 

Earnest,  money  given  before- 
hand; IV.  i.  49. 

EcJie,  eke  out  (Quartos,  Folio 
3,  "each")  ;  Prol.  III.  13. 

Eftsoons,  soon,  by  and  by ;  V. 
i.  256. 

Ember-eves,  evenings  preced- 
ing the  ember-days,  days  of 
fasting  at  four  seasons  of  the 
year ;  Prol.  I.  6. 

Entertain,   entertainment ;    I. 
119. 

Entrance    (trisyllabic)  ;    II.   i 
64. 

Erst,   erewhile,    formerly ;    I. 
49. 

Escapen,  escape ;    Prol.   II.   36. 

Exposition,  expounding,  inter- 
pretation; I.  i.   112. 

Extremity,  the  extremity  of 
suffering ;  V.  i.  140. 

Eync,  eyes;  Prol.  III.  5. 

Fact,  deed,  (?)  crime  (Quar- 
tos, Folios  3,  4,  "  face  " ;  Ma- 
son conj.  "feat");  IV.  iii, 
12. 

Fault,  misfortune ;  IV.  ii,  75. 

Favour,  face,  appearance;  IV. 
i,  25;  V.  iii.  13. 


113 


Glossary 


PERICLES. 


Fere,  companion,  spouse 
(Quartos.  "  Peere";  Folios  3, 
4,  "  Peer")  ;  Prol.  I.  21. 

Fits,  befits;  I.  i.  157. 

Flap-jacks,  pancakes;  II,  i.  87. 

Flaw,  stormy  wind;  III.  i.  39. 

For,  fit  for ;  I.  i.  7. 

,  for  fear  of ;  I.  i.  40. 

,   in   place   of,   instead   of; 

III.  i.  62. 

,  because ;  II.  iii.  13 ;  V.  i. 

158;  V.  iii.  48. 

Forbear,  bear  with ;  II.  iv.  46. 

'Fore,  before  (Quartos,  Folios 
3,  4,  "from")  ;  Prol.  III.  6. 

For  that,  because;  II.  i.  81. 

Frame,  go,  resort ;  Prol.  I.  :i2. 

,  shape,  mould ;  II.  v.  81. 

Furtherance,  help;  II.  i.  158. 

Gat,  begat ;  II.  ii.  6. 

'Gins,  begins ;  III.  ii.  95. 

Give  him  glad,  make  him  glad ; 

Prol.  II.  38. 
Give  's,  give  us  ;  II.  iv.  32, 
Glad,  gladden ;  I.  iv.  28. 
Gloze,  make  empty  words,  use 

deceit;  I.  i.  no. 
Gone  through,  bid  high ;  IV.  ii. 

47. 
Graif,  graft ;  V.  i.  60. 
Greets,  gratifies ;  IV.  iii.  38. 
Griefs,  grievances ;  II.  iv.  23. 
Grieve,  grieve  us;  II.  iv.  19. 
Gripe  at,  grasp  at,  catch  at ;  I.  i. 

49- 

Haling,  dragging  (Ma  lone, 
"with  hauling  of  the")  ;  IV. 

i.  55. 
Happily,  haply,  perhaps;   I.  iv. 
92. 


Hatched,  closed  with  a  half 
door;  IV.  ii.  35. 

Having,  possession ;   II.  i.   143. 

Heap,  mass,  body  (Jackson 
conj.  "head";  Collier  [ed. 
2],  "Jicad";  Bailey  conj. 
"  shape  ")  ;  1.  i.  33. 

Hie  thee,  hasten ;  III.  i.  69. 

Hies,  hastens ;  Prol.  V.  20. 

Hight,  is  called;  Prol.  IV.  18. 

Holy-ales,  rural  festivals  on 
saints'  days;  (?)  church-ales, 
or  wakes  (Steevens'  emenda- 
tion ;  Quartos  and  Folios. 
"  holy-daycs")  ;  Prol.  I.  6. 
(The  annexed  cut  is  a  unique 
representation  of  one  of  these 
ancient  popular  festivals.) 


From  a  XlVth  century  sculpture  over 
the  porch  of  Chalk  Church,  near 
Gravesend. 


Honour,  honourable  office;   II. 

ii.  14. 


114 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE 

Husbandry,  economy  of  time; 
(?)  attention  to  business; 
III.  ii.  20. 

In,  even  in ;  I.  iv.  102. 

Iniiict,  afflict;  V.  i.  61. 

In  hac  spe  vivo,  in  this  hope  I 
live;  II.  ii.  44.  (This  device 
is  supposed  by  Douce  to  be 
altered  from  the  one  here 
copied  from  Paradin.) 


Inkle,  a  kind  of  tape ;  here 
probably  some  kind  of  em- 
broidery silk;  Prol.  V.  8. 

Intend,  bend,  direct;   I.  ii.  116. 

Intends,  intentions;  V.  i.  259. 

I-zi'is,  truly,  certainly ;  Prol. 
II.  2. 

Jetted,  stalked,  strutted;  I.  iv. 
26. 


Glossary 

Joy,  rejoice;  II.  i.  163. 
Just,  joust,  tilt;  II.  i.  113. 

Killen,  kill ;  Prol.  II.  20. 

Late,  lately;  IV.  iv.  15. 

Level,  aim;  II.  iii.  114.    • 

Level  at,  aim  at ;  I.  i.  165. 

Lien,  lain;  III.  ii.  85. 

Light,  alighted,  fallen  ;  IV.  ii.  y^- 

Like,  equal,  the  same;  I.  i.  108: 
IV.  V.  I. 

,  just  as;  II.  iv.  ^6. 

,  likely;  III.  i.  17;  IV.  i.  80. 

Longs,  belongs  to  (Singer, 
"longs";  Quartos,  "long's"; 
Folios  3,  4,  "long's")  ;  Prol. 
II.  40. 

Looks,  faces,  countenances  (al- 
luding to  the  heads  of  suit- 
ors which  were  set  up  at  the 
gate  to  terrify  others  who 
might  come)  ;  Prol.  I.  40. 

Lop,  cut  off;  I.  ii.  90. 

Loud  music,  made  by  clashir.g 
of  armour ;  II.  iii.  97. 

Lown,  base  fellow ;  IV.  vi.  19. 

Lux  tiia  vita  milii,  thy  light  is 
life  to  me ;  II.  ii.  21. 

Mai  kin,  slattern  (Quarto  3, 
"  Mowkin  "  ;  the  rest,  "  Maw- 
kin";  the  old  pronuncia- 
tion) ;  IV.  iii.  34. 

Manage,  training;  usually  used 
of  a  horse ;  IV.  vi.  69. 

Mask'd,  concealing  as  with  a 
mask  its  cruel  nature  (Dyce 
conj.  "vast";  S.  Walker 
conj.  "  moist"  ;  Kinnear  conj. 
"  mighty  "  ;  Elze  conj.  "  calm- 
est") ;  III.  iii.  ^6, 


115 


f'- 


Glossary 


PERICLES. 


Me  pompco  provexit  apex,  "  the 
desire  of  renown  drew  me 
to  this  enterprise  "  (Wilkins' 
Novel)  ;  II.  ii.  30.  (Q.  il- 
lustration.) 


From  "  The  Heroicall  Devises  of 
M.  Claudius  Paradin,"  1591. 

Mis-dread,  fear  of  evil;  I.  ii.  12. 

Moons,  months;   Prol.  III.  31. 

Mortal,  fatal;  III.  ii.  no. 

Mortally,  in  the  manner  of 
mortals;  V.  i.  105. 

Motion,  a  working  pulse  (Peri- 
cles' exclamation  after  he  has 
felt  Marina's  pulse)  ;  Stee- 
vens,  "no  motion?"  i.e.  "  Are 
vou  not  a  puppet?"  V.  i. 
156. 

Must,  must  come  to  (Wray 
conj.  "must  he")  ;  I.  i.  44. 

Ne,  nor;  Prol.  II.  36. 

Needle     (pronounced     neeld)  ; 

Prol.  IV.  23. 
Neglection,  neglect;  III.  iii.  20. 


Nicely  scrupulously ;  IV.  i.  6. 
Nill,  will  not ;  Prol.  III.  55- 
Not,  not  only;  III.  ii.  46. 
Nousle,  nurse ;  I.  iv.  42. 

Of,    (?)    on    (Folios,    "on"); 

Prol.  V.  22. 
Old,  of  old,  long  ago ;  Prol.  I.  i. 
On,  of;  II.  i.  7;  H.  i-  36;  HI. 

iii.  20. 
Open,  disclose,  reveal ;  I.  ii.  87 ; 

IV.  iii.  23. 
Opinion,  public  opinion ;  II.  ii. 

56. 
Oppress,  suppress;  Prol.  III.  29. 
Orbs,  spheres;  I.  ii.   122. 
Ostent,   ostentation,    display 

(Quartos,     Folios     3,     4, 

"stint");  I.  ii.  25. 
Owe,  own;  V.  i.  118. 

Parted,   departed   from ;   V.  iii. 

Partakes,  communicates ;  I.  i. 
152. 

Passion,  grief;  IV.  iv.  24. 

Perch,  measure,  mile  (accord- 
ing to  some  =  "  r  e  s  t  i  n  g- 
place  ")  ;  Prol.  III.  15. 

Perishen,  perish ;   Prol.   II.  2>S- 

Piece,  masterpiece;  IV.  vi.  118. 

FiVc/j  =  leathern  coat  (used  as 
a  proper  name)  ;  II.  i.  12. 

Piu  por  diihura  que  por  fuersa, 
more  by  gentleness  than  by 
force  (the  Italian  "piu"  is 
used  instead  of  the  Spanish 
"  mas")  ;  II.  ii.  27. 

Plain,  make  plain  :  Prol.  III.  14. 

Porpus,  porpoise  (Quartos.  Fo- 
lios 3,  4,  "  Porpas")  ;  II.  i. 
26. 

16 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE 


Glossary 


Portly,  imposing;  I.  iv.  6i. 
Pregnant,  prompt,  ready;  Prol. 
IV,  44. 


From  Daniel's  Tj-anslatioji  of  Paulns 
Jovhis,  1585, 

Present,  "  his  p.,"  that  which  he 

presents ;  II.  ii.  42. 
,  instant,  immediate ;   Prol. 

IV.  38;  V.  i.  193. 
Presently,  immediately ;   III.   i. 

82. 
Prest,  prompt,  ready;  Prol.  IV. 

45.  _ 
Principals,  corner-posts  ;  III.  ii. 

16. 
Proportion,     portion,     fortune ; 

IV.  ii.  28. 

Prorogue,  draw  out,  linger  out ; 

V.  i.  26. 

Purchase,  gain,  profit  (Stee- 
vens  conj..  adopted  by  Ma- 
lone,  "purpose")  ;  Prol.  I.  9. 

Quaintly. skWinWy;  Prol.  III.  13. 
Quick,  invigorating;   IV.  i.  28. 


Quirks,  caprices ;  IV.  vi.  8. 

Quit,  requite;  III.  i.  35. 

Quod  me  alit,  me.  cxtinguit,  that 
which  gives  me  life,  gives  me 
death;  II.  ii.  3Z-  (Q-  illus- 
tration.) 

Rapture,  violent  effort  (Quar- 
tos, Folios  3,  4,  ''rupture")  ; 
II.  i.   159- 

Records,  sings ;  Prol.  IV.  27. 

Reft,  bereft ;  II.  iii.  84. 

Repeated,  mentioned,  told;  I.  i. 
96. 

Resist  me,  are  distasteful  to 
me ;  II.  iii.  29. 

Resolve,  solve ;  I.  i.  71. 

,  satisfy ;  II.  v.  68. 

,  tell  inform ;  V.  i.  i ;  V.  iii. 

61. 

Resolved,  satisfied,  convinced; 
II.  iv.  31. 

Return  the  m,  announce  to 
them ;  II.  ii.  4. 

Ruff;  IV.  ii.  in.  (Q.  illus- 
tration.) 


From  a  Spanish  portrait  of  the 
date  1503. 


117 


Glossary 


PERICLES. 


'Say'd  assayed,  those  who  have 

assayed ;  I.  i.  59,  60. 
Semblance    (trisyllabic)  ;   I.  iv. 

Shall's,  shall  we ;  IV.  v.  7. 
Shine,  brightness ;  I.  ii.  124, 
Shipman,  seaman;  I.  iii.  24. 
Shores,  sewers ;  IV.  vi.  180. 
Sic  spectanda  fides,  thus  faith 

is    to    be   tested;    II.    ii.    38. 

(Cp.  illustration.) 


From  "  The  Heroicall  Devises  of  M. 
Claudius  Paradin  .  .  .  ,"  1591. 

Sleidcd,  raw,  untwisted  (Quar- 
tos, Folio  3,  "  sleded  "  ;  Folio 
4,  ''sledded")  ;  Prol.  IV.  21. 

Smooih,  flatter;  I.  ii.  78. 

So,  well  and  good ;  IV.  ii.  46. 

Someiime,  once;  II.  i.  141. 

Sometimes,  formerly,  some- 
time ;  I.  i.  34. 

Somezvhat,  something;  II.  i. 
126. 

Speeding,  succeeding ;  II.  iii. 
116. 


Speken,  speak;  Prol.  II.  12. 
Standing-bowl,  a  bowl   resting 

on  a  foot ;  II.  iii.  65. 
Stay,  await ;  II.  ii.  3. 
Stead,  aid,  help  ;  Prol.  III.  21  ; 

Prol.  IV.  41. 
Still,  continually,  always ;  Prol. 

1.36. 
Straight,  immediately ;  III.  i.  54. 
Strain,  race ;  IV.  iii.  24. 
Suddenly,  quickly;  III.  i.  70. 
,  at  once,  immediately ;  IV. 

i.  96. 

Take,  betake ;  III.  iv.  10. 
Tellus,  the  earth ;  IV.  i.  14. 
That,  if;   Prol.  I.  13. 

,  so  that ;  Prol.  V.  7. 

Thetis,  the  sea  goddess ;  IV.  iv. 

39- 
Thorough,  through ;  IV.  iii.  35. 
Thoughten,    thinking ;    IV.    vi. 

115. 

Throng' d  11  p,  pressed,  numbed; 
II.  i.  77^ 

Throng' d,  pressed,  crushed;  I. 
i.  loi. 

Thzvarting,  crossing ;  IV.  iv.  10. 

Tire,  furniture,  bed-furniture 
(  ?)  =  comfortably  and  rich- 
ly furnished  bed;  III.  ii.  22. 

To,  compared  to;  II.  iii.  36. 

To-bless,  bless  (to,  used  inten- 
sively) ;  I\'.  vi.  23. 

Tourney,  hold  a  tournament ; 
II.  i.  114. 

Triumph,  tournament;  II.  ii.  i. 

Unscissar'd,  uncut,  untouched 
by  the  scissors ;  III.  iii.  29. 

Unto,  according  to,  in  compari- 
son to;  II.  i.  161. 


118 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE 


Glossary 


Vail,  lower ;  II.  iii.  42, 

,  do  homage;  Prol.  IV.  29. 

Vaics,  perquisites  received  by- 
servants;  II.  i.  155. 

Vegetives,  vegetables,  plants ; 
III.  ii.  36. 

Viol,  vial,  phial  (Quartos  4,  5, 
6;  Folios  3,  4,  "viall")  ;  III. 
ii.  90. 

Visor,  mask;  IV.  iv.  44. 

Wages,  equals,  weighs ;  IV.  ii. 
32. 

IVanion;  "  with  a  w."  =  "  with 
a  curse  on  you,"  "  with  a 
vengeance"  (probably  ulti- 
mately derived  from  the 
phrase  "  in  the  zuaniand,"  i.e. 
"  in  the  waning  moon,"  i.e.  at 
an  unlucky  time,  hence  =: 
with  ill-luck)  ;  II.  i.  17. 

Weed,  garment,  robe ;  IV.  i.  14. 

Well-a-day,  grief,  woe ;  IV.  iv. 
49. 


Well-a-neav,   alas!    well-a-day; 

Prolixin.  51- 
Well,  said,  well    done;    III.    ii. 

87. 

Where,  whereas;  I.  1.  127;  II. 
iii.  43. 

Whereas,  where ;  I.  iv.  70. 

Whipstock,  the  handle  of  a 
whip ;  II.  ii.  51. 

Who,  he  who ;  I.  i.  94. 

Wight,  man;  Prol.  I.  39. 

Wit,  know ;  IV.  iv.  31. 

With,  hy;  I.  i.  4 :  H.  i.  68,  69. 

Word,  motto;  II.  ii.  21. 

Would;  "  I  w.,"  I  wish ;  III.  i. 
42. 

Writ,  holy  writ,  gospel  (Quar- 
tos 2,  3,  "  write  " ;  Steevens 
conj.  "wit";  Nicholson  conj. 
"Writ")  ;  Prol.  II.  12. 

Younger,  past,  ago ;  I.  iv.  39. 
Y -slaked,  sunk  to  repose ;  Prol. 
III.  I. 


119 


PERICLES. 


Critical  Notes. 

BY   ISRAEL  GOLLANCZ. 

I.  i.  24.  '  boundless ' ;  Rowe's  emendation  of  Quartos,  Folios  3, 
4,  '  bond  I  esse/ 

I.  i.  29.  'death-like  dragons  here  aif right';  Daniel  conj.  'death, 
like  dragons,  here  affrights';  S.  Walker  conj.  'affront';  Hudson 
conj.  'affronts.' 

I-  i-  55-57-  The  arrangement  of  the  text,  confused  in  Quartos 
and  Folios,  was  first  made  by  Malone. 

I.  i.  59,60.  'Of  all  'say'd  yet';  Mason  conj.  'In  all,  save  that'; 
Mitford  conj.  '  O  false!  and  yet.' 

I.  i.  113.  'cancel  of;  Malone's  emendation;  Folios  3,  4.  '  cancel 
off ' ;  Quartos  i,  2,  3,  4,  6,  '  coiinsell  of  ' ;  Quarto  5,  '  counsel  of.' 

I.  i.  128.  'untimely' ;  Wilkins,  in  the  Novel,  writes  'uncomely,' 
which  may,  perhaps,  give  the  correct  reading  of  the  line. 

I.  i.  135.  'blush,'  i.e.  '  ivho  blush';  the  omission  of  the  pronoun, 
personal  or  relative,  is  characteristic  of  the  non-Shakespearian 
portions  of  the  play. 

I.  ii.  I.  'change  of  thoughts'  i.e.  perturbation  of  thought;  Stee- 
vens  conj.  'charge  of  thoughts  f ' ;  Mason  conj.  'change  of 
thoughts  f  ' ;  Singer  (ed.  2),  'charge  our  thoughts  f  ;  Staunton 
conj.  'change  our  thoughts  f ;  Bailey  conj,  'child  of  thought'; 
Daniel  conj.  'cast  of  thought.' 

I.  ii.  3.  '  Be  my  so  used  a  guest  as ' ;  Dyce's  emendation  ;  Quarto 
I,  'By  me  so  vsde  a  guest,  as';  Malone  (1780),  'By  me's  so  us'd 
a  guest,  as ' ;  Jackson  conj.  '  Be  by  me  so  us'd  a  guest? '. 

I.  ii.  8.  '  arm  ' ;  so  Folio  4 ;  Dyce  reads  '  aim.' 

I.  ii.  30.  '  Who  am';  Farmer  conj.;  Quartos.  Folios  3.  4.  '  Who 
once';  Malone  (1780),  'Who  owe';  (1790),  'Who  wants.' 

I.  ii.  41.  'blast';  Mason  conj.  Quartos,  Folios  3,  4,  'spark'; 
Malone  (1790).  '  breatJi' ;  Steevens  conj.  'wind.' 

I.  ii.  55.  'plants';  so  Quarto  i;  Malone's  emendation  of  Quar- 
tos and  Folios,  'planets.' 

I.  ii.  85.  'doubt  it':  Steevens  conj.;  Quartos  i.  2.  3,  'doo't'; 
Quartos  4,  5,  6,  and  Folios,  '  thinke.' 

no 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Notes 

I.  ii.  93.  '  spares ' ;  so  Quarto  i ;  Quartos  2-6,  and  Folios  3,  4. 
'  feares  '  and  '  fears.' 

I.  ii.  95.  '  reprovest' ',  Malone,  'reprov'st;  Quartos  i,  2,  3. 
'  reprou'dst' ;  Quartos  4,  5,  6,  '  reprovedst' ;  Folios  3,  4. 
'  reproved' St.' 

I.  iii.  4-7.  Cp.  "  I  will  therefore  commend  the  poet  Philipides, 
who,  being  demanded  by  King  Lisimachus  what  favour  he  might 
do  unto  him,  for  that  he  loved  him,  made  him  answer  to  the  king, 
that  your  Majesty  would  never  impart  unto  me  any  of  your 
secrets." — Barnabie  Riche's  Soldier's  Wish  to  Britain's  Welfare. 

I.  iii.  27-28.  '  but  since  he 's  gone,  the  king's  seas  must  please ' ; 
Mason  conj.  'But  since  he  is  gone,  the  king,  seas  must  please'; 
Percy  conj.  'But  since  he's  gone,  the  king  it  sure  must  please'; 
Collier  (ed.  2),  'But  since  he  is  gone  the  king's  ease  must  please  ' ; 
Perring  conj.  'But  since  he's  gone,  the  king  this  news  must 
please';  Dyce  conj.  'But  since  he's  gone  the  king's  ears  it  must 
please.' 

I.  iv.  8.  'mischief's  eyes';  Steevens.  '  mistful  eyes';  Anon. 
conj.  (1814),  'mischief-size';  Singer  (ed.  2),  '  mistie  eyes';  S. 
Walker  conj.  'misery's  eyes';  Kinnear  conj.  'weakness'  eyes'; 
Mr.  T.  Tyler's  suggestion,  '  not  seen  with  mischief's  eyes'  i.e.  '  not 
seen  with  the  eyes  of  despair,'  seems  to  be  the  most  ingenious  cor- 
rection of  the  line,  if  any  change  is  necessary. 

I.  iv.  13-14.  '  Our  tongues  and  sorrows  do  sound  deep  Our 
woes';  Hudson  reads,  'Our  tongues  do  sound  our  sorrows  and 
deep  woes.' 

;  'sorrows  do';   Cartwright  conj.   'sobbings  do';   Bailey 

conj.  'bosoms  too';  Anon.  conj.  'sorrowing  bosoms  do.' 

I.  iv.  15.  'tongues' ;  Quartos  i,  2,  3,  'toungs';  Steevens  conj. 

*  lungs.' 

I.  iv.  39.  'yet  two  summers  younger';  Mason  conj.;  Quarto  i, 

*  yet  two  sauers  younger';  Folios  3,  4,  'yet  to  savers  younger.' 

I.  iv.  69.  '  of  unhappy  me  ' ;  Malone  (1780),  '  of  unhappy  men  ' ; 
Steevens  conj.  'of  unhappy  we';  Jackson  conj.  'O  unhappy 
me.' 

I.  iv.  74.  '  him's'  i.e.  'him  who  is';  Malone's  reading;  Quarto 
T,  'himnes';  Quartos  2,  3,  Folio  3,  'hymnes';  Quartos  4,  5. 
'  hymmes  ' ;  Quarto  6,  '  hywmes ' ;  Folio  4,  '  hymns ' ;  Steevens 
conj.  'him  zvho  is.' 

Prol.  II.  19.  'for  though';  Steevens,  'forth';  Singer  (ed.  2), 
'for  thy';  Nicholson  conj.  '  for-though' ;  Kinnear  conj.  'for 
through.' 

121 


Notes  PERICLES, 

Prol.  II.  22.  'Sends  word';  Stcevens  conj.:  Quartos  1-5  read 
'  Sau'd  one'',  Quarto  6,  Folios  3,  4,  '  Sav'd  one.' 

II.  i.  52.  '  iinny';  Steevens  conj.  (from  Wilkins'  novel)  ;  Quar- 
tos, Folios  3,  4,  '  fenny.' 

11.  i,  58.  'search';  .Steevens  conj.  'scratch  it';  Singer  (ed.  2), 
'  scratch't' ;  Staunton,  'scratch';  Anon.  conj.  'steal  it';  Hudson, 
'  steal' t: 

II.  i.  60.  'May  see  the  sea  hath  cast  upon  your  coast' ;  so  Quar- 
tos; Folios  3,  4,  '  Y'  may  see  the  sea  hath  cast  me  upon  your 
coast';  Malone  (1780),  'You  may  see  the  sea  hath  cast  me  on 
your  coast';  Steevens,  adopted  by  Malone  (1790),  'Nay,  see,  the 
sea  hath  cast  upon  your  coast — .' 

II.  ii.  14.  'entertain';  Steevens  conj.  'explain';  Anon.  conj. 
'entreat';  Anon,  conj,  'emblazon' ;  Schmidt  conj.  'interpret.' 

II.  iii.  19.  'Marshal' ;  Malone's  emendation;  Quartos,  Folio  3, 
' MartiaW;  Folio  4,  'Martial' 

II.  iii.  29.  'resist' ;  Collier  conj.  'distaste.' 

;  'he  not';  so  Quartos  2-6,  Folios  3,  4;  Malone,  'she  not,'; 

Malone  conj.  'he  now';  Steevens  conj.  'be  not';  Mason  conj. 
'she  but';  Dyce  conj.  'he  but.' 

II.  iii.  50.  'stored';  Steevens  conj.;  Quartos  i,  2,  3,  4,  6, 
' stur'd';  Folios  3,  4,  ' stirr'd';  Mason  conj.  ' stow'd.' 

II.  iii.  63.  '  kill'd  are  zvonder'd  at';  Daniel,  'still  ne'er  won- 
dered at' ;  Anon.  conj.  'kill'd  are  scorned  at' ;  Kinnear,  '  little  are 
wonder' d  at.' 

II.  iv.  41.  'For  honour's  cause';  Dyce's  reading;  Quartos,  Fo- 
lios 3,  4,  'Try  honours  cause';  Steevens  conj.  'Try  honour's 
course';  Jackson  conj.  'Cry,  honour's  cause!';  Anon.  conj.  'By 
Iwnour's  cause.' 

Prol.  III.  35.  '  Y -ravished ' ;  Steevens  conj.;  Quarto  i,  '  Irany- 
shed  ' ;  Quarto  2,  '  Irany  shed  ' ;  the  rest,  '  Irony  shed.' 

III.  i.  7-8.  '  Thou  stormest  venomously ;  Wilt' ;  Dyce's  reading; 
Quartos,  Folios  3,  4,  '  then  storme  venomously,  Wilt ' ;  Malone, 
'  Thou  storm,  venomously.  Wilt';  Steevens,  'Thou,  storm,  thou! 
venomously  Wilt';  Collier,  '  Thou  storm,  venomously  Wilt.' 

III.  i.  14.  'travails' ;  Folio  3,  'travels';  Dyce,  'travail.' 

III.  i.  26.  '  Use  honour  zvith  you' ;  Steevens  reads,  '  Vie  honour 

with  yourselves';  Mason  conj.  'Vie  honour  with  you.' 

III.  i.  63.  'aye-remaining  lamps' ;  Malone's  conj.;  Quartos  i,  2, 

3.  '  ayre  remayning  lampes';   Quartos  4,   5,  6,   '  ayre  remaining 

lampes  ' ;  Folio  3,  '  ayre  remaining  lamps  ' ;  Folio  4,  '  air  remaining 

lamps';  Jackson  conj.  '  area-manesing,'  etc. 

;?3 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE 


Notes 


ill.  ii.  17.  ''  all'to  topple';  Singer  (ed.  2),  '  al-to  topple';  Quar- 
tos, Folios  3,  4.  '  all  to  topple  ' ; 
Dyce,  '  all  to-topplc! 

III.  ii.  22.  'Rich  tire';  Stee- 
vens  conj.  'Such  towers';  Quar- 
tos I,  2,  3,  'Rich  tire';  the  rest, 
'  Rich  attire ' ;  Jackson  conj. 
'Rich  Tyre';  Collier  (ed.  2), 
'Rich  'tire' 

III.  ii.  41.  '  treasure ' ;  S  t  e  e- 
vens'  emendation  for  'pleasures' 
and  'pleasure'  of  Quartos,  Fo- 
lios 3,  4. 

III.  ii.  42.  '  to  please  the  fool 
and  death.'  Cp.  the  accompany- 
ing initial  from  Stowe's  Survey 
of  London  (1618.)  Steevens  ex- 
plained the  words  as  an  allusion 
to  an  old  print  exhibiting  Death  in  the  act  of  plundering  a  miser 
of  his  bags,  and  the  Fool  standingbehind,  and  grinning  at  the  process. 

III.  ii.  48.  'time  shall  never  .  .  .  '  so  Quartos  i,  2.  3; 
Quartos  4,  5,  6,  Folios  3,  4,  ' neuer  shall  decay';  Malone,  'time 
shall  never — ■";  Dyce,  'time  shall  never  raze';  Staunton,  'time 
shall  ne'er  decay' ;  Anon.  conj.  '  time  shall  never  end.' 

III.  iii.  7.  '  zvanderingly' ;  Quartos,  Folios  3.  4,  '  wondringly' ; 
Schmidt  conj.  '  ivoundingly.' 

III.  iii.  29.  '  Unscissar'd  shall  this  hair';  Steevens'  emendation; 
Quartos  1-4,  '  vnsisterd  .  .  .  heyre';  Quarto  5,  '  unsisterd 
shall  his  heyres  ' ;  Quarto  6,  'unsisterd  .  .  .  heire';  Folios  3, 
4,  'unsisterd     .     .     .     heir.' 

III.  iii.  30.  '  shozv  ill';  Quartos  and  Folios  read  'show  will': 
the  correction  was  made  independently  by  Malone  and  Dyce;  this 
and  the  previous  emendations  are  confirmed  by  the  corresponding 
passage  in  the  Novel. 

Prol.  IV.  17.  'marriage  rite';  Collier's  reading;  Percy  conj. 
'marriage  rites';  Quartos.  Folios  3,  4,  'marriage  sight';  Stee- 
vens conj.,  adopted  by  Malone,  'marriage  tight';  Steevens  conj. 
'  marriage  night.' 

Prol.  IV.  26.  'night-bird';  Malone's  emendation  of  Quartos, 
Folios  3,  4,  'night  bed.' 

IV.  i.  5.  ' inilaming  love  i'  thy  bosom';  Knight's  emendation  o£ 
Quarto  i,  'in  flaming,  thy  loue  bosomc'  etc. 

123 


Notes  PERICLES. 

IV.  i.  II.  'only  mistress'  death';  Malone  (1790),  'old  mistress' 
death  ' ;  Percy  conj.  '  old  nurse's  death,'  etc.,  etc. 

IV.  i.  64.  '  stem  to  stern  ' ;  Malone's  emendation ;  Quartos, 
'  Sterne  to  stcrne ' ;  Folios  3,  4,  '  stern  to  stern.' 

IV.  i.  97.  '  the  great  pirate  V aides ' ;  "  perhaps  there  is  here  a 
scornful  allusion  to  Don  Pedro  de  Valdes,  a  Spanish  admiral 
taken  by  Drake  in  1588"  (Malone). 

IV.  iii.  17,  'pious''.  Mason  conj.,  and  Wilkins'  novel,  adopted 
by  Collier;  Quartos  i,  2,  3,  'impious' ;  the  rest  omit  the  word. 

IV.  iii.  47-48.  'dost,  with  thine  angel's  face,  Seize'',  Malone 
conj.  'dost  wear  thine  angel's  face;  Sei:;e';  Steevens,  'doth  wear 
an  angel's  face.  Seize';  Hudson  (1881),  'doth  use  an  angel's  face, 
Then  seize.' 

IV.  iii.  48.  'talons';  Rowe's  emendation  of  Quartos,  Folios  3, 
4,  '  talents.' 

IV.  iv.  13-16.  The  arrangement  of  the  lines  is  according  to 
Hudson's  edition  (1881). 

IV.  iv.  18.  'his  pilot  thought';  Steevens  conj.  'his  pilot 
wrought' ;  Mason  conj.  '  this  pilot-thought' ;  Quartos  i,  2,  3,  '  this 
Pilot  thought' ;  the  rest,  '  this  Pilate  thought.' 

IV.  iv.  48.  'scene  must  play';  Malone's  emendation  (1790); 
Quartos,  Folios  3,  4  read  '  Steare  must  play';  Steevens  conj., 
adopted  by  Malone  (1780),  '  tears  must  play  ' ;  Malone  conj.  '  stage 
must  play ' ;  Steevens,  '  scenes  display.' 

V.  i.  47.  ' deafen'd' ;  Malone's  emendation;  Quarto  i,  'defend'; 
the  rest^  '  defended.' 

V.  i.  72.  'prosperous  and  artificial  feat';  i.e.  'gracefully  and 
skilfully  performed' ;  Mason  conj.  'prosperous  artifice  and  fate'; 
Steevens,  '  prosperous-artificial  feat.' 

;  'feat';  Percy  conj.,  adopted  by  Steevens;  Quartos,  Folios 

3,  4, 'fate.' 

V.  i.  209-210.  The  passage  is  so  corrupt  that  the  Cambridge 
editors  found  themselves  obliged  to  leave  it  as  it  stands  in  the 
Quartos  and  Folios. 

V.  i.  235.  'nips';  Collier  conj.  'raps.' 

V.  i.  247.  'life';  Charlemont  conj.,  adopted  by  Malone;  Quar- 
tos, Folios  3,  4,  '  like.' 


124 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE 


Explanatory  Notes. 

The  Explanatory  Notes  in  this  edition  have  been  specially  selected  and 
adapted,  with  emendations  after  the  latest  and  best  authorities,  from  the 
most  eminent  Shakespearian  scholars  and  commentators,  including  Johnson, 
Malone,  Steevens,  Singer,  Dyce,  Hudson,  White,  Furness,  Dowden,  and 
others.  This  method,  here  introduced  for  the  first  time,  provides  the  best 
annotation  of  Shakespeare  ever  embraced  in  a  single  edition. 


ACT  FIRST. 

"  Gower,"  says  Lloyd,  "  was  a  contemporary  of  Chancer,  and 
in  one  respect  at  least  fully  worthy  to  be  so.  His  strong  point  is 
his  versification ;  in  the  composition  we  are  concerned  with  at 
least,  we  find  none  of  Chaucer's  sympathy  with  external  nature, 
none  of  his  sense  of  the  humorous,  and  little  of  his  diversified 
natural  passion ;  the  proper  poetic  vein  of  Gower,  it  must  be  said, 
is  dry,  and  in  default  of  this  it  is  not  much  to  say  for  his  reputa- 
tion as  a  poet,  that  he  could  adhere  to  and  pursue  a  story  with 
more  conscientiousness  than  Chaucer  in  his  idle  moments  com- 
pelled himself  to ;  and  he  has  the  merit,  not  slight  in  itself,  though 
one  capable  of  large  enhancement  by  addition  of  gifts  that  Gower 
had  not.  of  a  correct  ear  and  happy  power  in  guiding  with  tight- 
ened rein  the  paces  that  may  be  even  stately,  but  that  may  so 
easily  degenerate  into  the  shambling  of  the  rhymed  verse  of  eight 
syllables.  Hence  came  the  inspiration  of  the  spirited  numbers  in 
which  the  lines  run  that  are  assigned  to  Gower  as  chorus,  and 
this  circumstance  alone  gives  importance  to  Pericles  in  the  his- 
tory of  E'lglish  literature,  for  it  is  impossible  to  read  them  with- 
out perceiving  that  from  this  intermediate  basin  Milton  drew  the 
sweet  waters  of  Gower's  early  English  rhythm,  as  those  of 
Chaucer  from  Midsummer-Night's  Dream;  that  hence  it  was  he 
caught  some  of  those  tones  that  complete  the  perfection  of  what 
I  must  call  unaffectedly  his  most  perfect  poems — poems  that  are 
as  entirely  satisfactory  as  the  art  of  Shakespeare  and  the  Greeks, 
however  subordinate  in  scope,  the  Allegro  and  Penseroso." 

40.  Referring  to  the  heads  of  the  unsuccessful  suitors  set  up 
over  the  palace  gate,  which  is  supposed  to  be  in  the  sight  of  the 
audience.     So  in  Gower's  poem : — 

125 


Notes  PERICLES. 

"  And  in  this  wise  his  lawe  taxeth, 
That  what  man  that  his  daughter  axeth, 
But  if  he  couthe  his  question 
Assoile  upon  suggestion 
Of  certein  thinges  that  befelle, 
The  which  he  wold  unto  him  telle  ^ 
He  shuld  in  certein  lese  his  hede. 
And  thus  there  were  many  dede 
Her  hedes  stonding  on  the  gate 
Till  ate  laste,  long  and  late, 
For  lack  of  answere  in  this  wise, 
The  remenaunt,  that  weren  wise, 
Escheweden  to  make  assaie." 


Scene  I. 

I.  It  does  not  appear  that  the  father  of  Pericles  is  living.  By 
prince,  therefore,  throughout  this  play,  we  are  to  understand 
prince  regnant.  In  the  Gesta  RoinanoriDn  Apollonius  is  king  of 
Tyre;  in  Twine's  translation  he  is  repeatedly  called  prince  of 
Tyriis,  as  he  is  in  Gower. 

8,9.  The  words  whose  and  Jier  refer  to  the  daughter  of  Anti- 
ochus.  Lucina  was  the  goddess  who  presided  over  childbirth; 
therefore  till  Lucina  reign'd  means  till  the  time  of  birth. 

g-ii.  Nature  tJiis  dozvry  gave  .  .  .  perfections: — The  dowry 
given  was,  that  the  senate-house  of  planets  should  sit,  etc.  Com- 
pare Milton,  Paradise  Lost,  viii.  511 : — 

"  All  heaven, 
And  happy  constellations,  on  that  hour 
Shed  their  selectest  influence." 

13,  14.  Graces  her  subjects,  etc. : — "  The  Graces  are*  her  sub- 
jects, and  her  thoughts  the  sovereign  of  every  virtue  that  gives 
renown  to  men." 

18.  By  her  mild  companion  is  meant  "the  companion  of  her 
mildness."  Hudson  (Harvard  ed.),  adopting  the  conjecture  of 
Daniel,  reads  "  in  her  mild  company." 

27.  Hesperidcs  is  here  put  for  the  garden  in  which  the  golden 
apples  were  kept.  So  also  in  Love's  Labour's  Lost,  IV.  iii.  340: 
"  Climbing  trees  in  the  Hesperides." 

126 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Notes 

43,44.  to  prepare,  etc.: — That  is,  "to  prepare  this  body  for  that 
state  to  which  I  must  come." 

62,63.  Nor  ask  advice,  etc.: — So  in  Sidney's  Arcadia:  "Asking 
advice  of  no  other  thought  but  faithfiilnesse  and  courage,  he. 
presently  lighted  from  his  own  horse." 

72.  Sharp  physic  is  the  last: — That  is,  the  intimation  in  the 
last  line  of  the  riddle,  that  his  life  depends  on  resolving  it. 

79,  80.  He  is  no  perfect  or  honest  man,  that,  knowing,  etc. 

S7.  touch  not : — This  is  a  stroke  of  nature.  The  incestuous 
king  cannot  bear  to  see  a  rival  touch  the  hand  of  the  woman  he 
loves. 

96-100.  For  vice  repeated  .  .  .  hurt  them: — "The  man  who 
knows  the  ill  practices  of  princes  is  unwise  if  he  reveals  what  he 
knows;  for  the  publisher  of  vicious  actions  resembles  the  wind, 
which,  while  it  passes  along,  blows  dust  into  men's  eyes.  When 
the  blast  is  over,  the  eyes  that  have  been  affected  by  the  dust, 
though  sore,  see  clear  enough  to  stop  for  the  future  the  air  that 
would  annoy  them." 

loi.  Copp'd  hills  are  hills  rising  in  a  conical  form,  something 
of  the  shape  of  a  sugar-loaf.  Thus  in  Horman's  Vulgaria,  1519: 
"  Sometime  men  wear  copped  caps  like  a  sugar  loaf."  So  Baret : 
"To  make  copped,  or  sharpe  at  top;  cacumino." 

102.  poor  worm : — The  mole  is  so  called  in  the  way  of  com- 
miseration. In  The  Tempest,  III.  i.  31,  Prospero,  speaking  to 
Miranda,  says,  "  Poor  worm,  thou  art  infected !  "  The  mole  re- 
mains secure  till  it  has  thrown  up  those  hillocks  which  betray 
his  course  to  the  mole-catcher. 

134-136.  for  wisdom  sees,  etc. : — The  expression  here  is  ellipti- 
cal :  "  For  wisdom  sees  that  those  men  zvho  do  not  blush  to  com- 
mit actions  blacker  than  the  night  will  not  shun  any  course  to 
keep  them  from  being  known." 


Scene  II. 

I.  change  of  thoughts: — Mason  interprets  this  as  meaning 
"  that  change  in  the  disposition  of  his  mind — that  unusual  pro- 
pensity to  melancholy  and  cares,  which  he  afterwards  describes, 
and  which  made  his  body  pine  and  his  soul  to  languish."  Ma- 
lone's  reading,  charge,  has  been  followed  by  Dyce,  Knight,  and 
Hudson  (Harvard  ed.),  the  last-named  remarking  that  the  word 
is  here  used  for  burden  or  weight. 

127 


Notes  PERICLES, 

44.  Signior  Sooth  : — A  near  kinsman  of  this  gentleman  is  men- 
tioned in  The  Winter's  Tale,  I.  ii.  196:  "Sir  Smile,  his  neigh- 
bour." 

62.  let  their  ears  hear  their  faults  hid: — Suffer  their  ears  to 
hear  their  failings  palliated. 

74.  arms  to  princes,  etc. : — Such  as  bring  additional  strength  to 
princes  and  joy  to  their  subjects. 

Scene  III. 

25.  life  or  death : — Rolfe  thinks  the  writer  meant  "  that  life  or 
death  was  the  question  each  minute."  Hudson  (Harvard  ed.). 
following  Daniel's  conjecture,  reads  "life  with  death." 

36.  desire  it : — Malone  would  have  added  "  told."  Walker  con- 
jectured "inquire  it";  and  Hudson  (Harvard  ed.)  reads  "in- 
quire of  it." 

Scene  IV. 

Delius  having  asserted  that  in  this  Scene  Cleon,  In  a  senseless 
manner,  tells  his  wife  of  things  which  she  knows  as  well  as  he 
does  himself,  Ulrici  remarks  that  "  Cleon  does  not  '  tell '  her  of 
the  famine ;  he  and  Dionyza  are  merely  talking  about  their  sad 
position,  about  the  terribly  rapid  change  between  overflowing 
abundance  and  abject  poverty,  and  are  grieving  over  the  misery 
which  has  suddenly  come  upon  them." 

42.  nousle : — This  old  word  for  nurse  was  much  used  by  old 
writers.     So  Spenser,  Faerie  Queene,  I.  vi.  23 : — 

"  Whom,  till  to  ryper  years  he  gan  aspyre. 
He  nousled  up  in  life  and  maners  wilde." 

93,94.  Are  like,  etc.: — That  is,  are  like  the  Trojan  horse,  which 
was  stuffed  with  bloody  veins,  i.e.  living  men.  Some  editions 
change  zvas  stuff' d  into  ivar-stuff'd,  and  veins  into  views. 

ACT  SECOND. 

9-T2.  The  good,  etc.: — That  is,  the  good  prince  (on  whom  I 
bestow  my  blessing)  is  still  at  Tarsus,  where  every  man  pays  as 
much  respect  to  all  he  can  speak,  as  if  it  were  holy  writ. 

13,  14.  And,  to  remember,  etc. : — This  circumstance  is  found 
in  the  Confessio  Amantis: — 

128 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Notes 

"  That  thei  for  ever  in  remembrance 
Made  a  figure  in  resemblance 
Of  hyjii,  and  in  comonne  place 
Thei  set  it  upp ;  so  that  his  face 
Miht  every  maner  man  byholde : 
It  was  of  latonn  over  gylte." 

40.  "Pardon  old  Gower  from  telling  what  ensues:  it  belongs 
to  the  text,  not  to  his  part  as  chorus." 

Scene  I. 

25-27.  sazv  the  porptis,  etc.: — Sailors  have  long  held  the  notion 
that  the  playing  of  porpoises  round  a  ship  is  a  certain  prognostic 
of  a  violent  gale  of  wind. 

35  et  seq.  Brandes  observes  that  "  the  scene  between  the  three 
fishermen,  with  which  the  second  Act  opens,  owns  some  turns 
which  speak  of  Shakespeare,  especially  where  a  fisherman  says 
that  the  avaricious  rich  are  the  whales  '  o'  the  land,  who  never 
leave  gaping  till  they  've  swallowed  the  whole  parish,  church, 
steeple,  bells,  and  all,'  and  another  replies,  '  But,  master,  if  I  had 
been  the  s(  x'on,  I  would  have  been  that  day  in  the  belfry.'  " 

64,65.  In  that  vast  tennis-court,  etc.: — So  in  Sidney's  Arcadia: 
"  In  such  a  shadow  mankind  lives,  that  neither  they  know  how  to 
foresee,  nor  what  to  feare,  and  are,  like  tcnis  bals,  tossed  by  the 
racket  of  the  higher  powers." 

117.  118.  O,  sir,  things,  etc.: — "Things  must  be  as  they  are  ap- 
pointed to  be ;  and  what  a  man  is  not  sure  to  compass,  he  has  yet 
a  just  right  to  attempt."  The  rest  of  the  passage  seems  meaning- 
less, and  is  probably  mutilated. 

122.  bots  on't: — This  comic  execration  was  formerly  used  in- 
stead of  one  less  decent.     Bots  is  a  disease  in  horses. 

Scene  II. 

4.  Return  them : — That  is,  return  them  word  that  we  are  ready. 

56,  57.  scan  the  outzvard  habit,  etc. : — Scan  the  inward  man  by 
the  outward  habit.  Such  inversions  are  not  uncommon  in  old 
writers. 

Scene  III. 

29.  These  cates  resist  me : — "  These  delicacies  go  against  my 
stomach," 


Notes  PERICLES, 

63.  are  zvonder'd  at : — When  kings,  like  insects,  lie  dead  before 
us,  our  admiration  is  excited  by  contemplating  how  in  both  in- 
stances the  powers  of  creating  bustle  were  superior  to  those 
which  either  object  should  seem  to  have  promised. 

Scene  IV. 

7.  When  he  was  seated  in  a  chariot : — "  A  grossly  corrupted 
passage,"  says  White,  "  though  intelligible." 

34.  the  strongest  in  our  censure : — That  is,  according  to  Stee- 
vens,  "  the  most  probable  in  our  opinion." 

Scene  V. 

2  et  seq.  "  The  expedient  here  devised  by  Simonides  for  hav- 
ing the  suitors  '  well  despatch'd '  is  indeed,"  says  Clarke,  "  not 
very  consonant  with  the  dignity  of  truth ;  but  it  is  quite  character- 
istic of  the  waggish  tendency  to  stratagem  shown  by  the  royal  old 
gentleman,  in  proceeding  to  *  dissemble '  his  satisfaction  at  his 
daughter's  choice,  and  to  play  off  a  pretended  anger  at  the  lovers' 
mutual  affection,  that  he  may  keep  them  in  a  flutter  of  suspense 
until  he  choose  to  join  their  hands  and  bid  them  wed  at  once  as 
the  penalty  of  their  transgression,  in  daring  to  fall  in  love  with- 
out his  leave.  Steevens  solemnly  demurs  to  this  conduct  of 
Simonides ;  yet,  though  it  may  not  be  *  ingenuous,'  it  is  perfectly 
in  character — diplomatically  as  well  as  dramatically." 

93.  From  this  line  Steevens  omits  and.  At  this  place  he  has 
the  following  observations :  "  I  cannot  dismiss  the  foregoing 
Scene  till  I  have  expressed  the  most  supreme  contempt  of  it. 
Such  another  gross,  nonsensical  dialogue  would  be  sought  for  in 
vain,  among  the  earliest  and  rudest  efforts  of  the  British  theatre. 
It  is  impossible  not  to  wish  that  the  knights  had  horsewhipped 
Simonides,  and  that  Pericles  had  kicked  him  off  the  stage." 


ACT  THIRD. 

In  the  stage  direction  for  the  Dumb  Show  the  lords  kneel  to 
Pericles,  because  they  are  now,  for  the  first  time,  informed  by  this 
letter,  that  he  is  King  of  Tyre.  By  the  death  of  Antiochus  and 
his    daughter,    Pericles    has    also    succeeded    to    the    throne    of 

130 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Notes 

Antioch.  in  consequence  of  having  rightly  interpreted  the  riddle 
proposed  to  him. 

59,  60.  It  is  clear  from  these  lines  that  when  the  play  was  origi- 
nally performed  no  attempt  was  made  to  exhibit  either  a  sea  or 
a  ship. 

Scene  I. 

"  The  diction  throughout  the  present  scene,"  in  Clarke's  opin- 
ion, "  is  veritably  Shakespearian.  It  has  that  majesty  of  unre- 
strained force  which  distinguishes  his  finest  descriptive  passages, 
and  that  dignity  of  expression,  combined  with  the  most  simple 
and  natural  pathos,  which  characterizes  his  passages  of  deepest 
passion.  After  the  comparative  stiffness  traceable  in  the  phrase- 
ology of  the  previous  scenes,  and  after  the  cramped '  and  an- 
tiquated chant-speeches  of  Gower,  this  opening  of  the  third  Act 
always  comes  upon  us  with  the  effect  of  a  grand  strain  of  music 
— the  music  of  the  great  master  himself — with  its  rightly  touched 
discords  and  its  nobly  exalted  soul-sufficing  harmonies."  And 
Hudson  (Harvard  ed.)  exclaims:  "After  the  dull  and  dreary 
scenes  that  precede,  how  refreshing  it  is  at  last  to  strike  upon 
a  vein  of  genuine  Shakespeare !  " 

I.  this  great  vast: — It  should  be  remembered  that  Pericles  is 
supposed  to  speak  from  the  deck.  Lychorida,  on  whom  he  calls, 
is  supposed  to  be  in  the  cabin  beneath. 

30  et  sea.  A  part  of  this  most  Shakespearian  passage  is  found 
in  Wilkins's  novel.  The  words  in  italics  will  show  that  one  of 
the  Poet's  most  characteristic  expressions  has  been  lost  out  of 
the  text:  "Poor  inch  of  nature!  quoth  he,  thou  art  as  rudely 
welcome  to  the  world,  as  ever  princess'  babe  was ;  and  hast  as 
chiding  a  nativity,  as  fire,  air,  earth,  and  water  can  afford  thee." 

35.  Thy  loss,  etc. : — That  is,  "  thou  hast  already  lost  more,  by 
.the  death  of  thy  mother,  than  thy  safe  arrival  at  the  port  of  life 
can  requite,  with  all  to  boot  that  we  can  give  thee."  Portage  is 
here  used  for  conveyance  into  life. 

75,76.  Thither,  gentle  mariner,  etc.: — Change  thy  course,  which 
is  now  for  Tyre,  and  go  to  Tarsus. 

Scene  II. 

9.  Give  this  to  the  'pothecary,  etc. : — The  recipe  cannot  be  for 
the  servant's  master.  It  must  be  either  for  the  servant  himself, 
or  for  the  poor  men  who  here  leave  the  stage. 

131 


Notes  PERICLES, 

67.  Apollo,  perfect  me,  etc. : — He  asks  that  Apollo  may  make 
him  able  to  read  it. 

105.  What  world  is  this: — This  is  from  the  Confessio  Aman- 
tis  :— 

"  And  first  hir  eyen  up  she  caste, 
And  when  she  more  of  strength  caught, 
Her  armes  both  forth  she  straughte; 
Held  up  hir  honde  and  piteouslie 
She  spake,  and  said,  Where  am  I  ? 
Where  is  my  lorde  ?     Ah  !     What  worlde  is  this  ?  " 

ACT   FOURTH. 
Scene  I. 

I  ct  seq.  It  has  been  remarked  how  this  wicked  foster-mother, 
hating  Marina,  corresponds  to  the  wicked  stepmother  in  Cymbc- 
line,  who  hates  Imogen. 

4-6.  Let  not  conscience  .  .  .  too  nicely: — This  passage,  says 
White,  is  hopelessly  corrupted. 

;  17.  Shall,  as  a  carpet,  hang,  etc. : — That  is,  as  drapery.  Tablc- 
'covers,  and  articles  of  like  kind  and  use,  were  called  carpets. 
Floors  were  covered  with  rushes. 

1  52  et  seq.  When  I  was  born,  the  luind  was  north,  etc.: — 
■"  Most  notable,"  observes  Brandes,  "  is  the  preliminary  sketch  of 
the  tempest  which  ushers  in  the  play.  Over  and  above  the  re- 
semblance between  the  storm-scenes  [in  Pericles  and  The  Tem- 
pest] we  have  Marina's  description  of  the  hurricane  during  which 
she  was  born  (IV.  i.),  and  Ariel's  description  of  the  shipwreck 
(Tempest,  I.  ii.)." 

Scene  II. 

16.  Ay,  to  eleven,  etc. : — Brought  them  up  to  eleven  years  of 
age,  and  then  brought  them  down  again  ;  that  is,  ruined  them. 

35.  keep  our  door  hatched: — This,  says  Hudson  (Harvard  ed.), 
"  means  shut  up  shop,  or  give  over  our  trade." 

114-116.  he  will  come  in  our  shadow,  etc.: — The  allusion  is  to 
the  French  coin  ecus  de  soleil,  crOzvns  of  the  sun.  The  meaning 
of  the  passage  is  merely  this,  that  the  French  knight  will  seek 
the  shade  of  their  house  to  scatter  his  money  there, 

133 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Notes 

147,148.  thunder  .  .  .  eels: — Thunder  was  supposed  to  have 
the  effect  of  rousing  eels  from  the  mud,  and  so  rendering  them 
more  easy  to  take  in  stormy  weather.  Marston  alludes  to  this  in 
his  Satires : — 

"  They  are  nought  but  eeles,  that  never  will  appeare 
Till  that  tempestuous  winds,  or  thunder,  teare 
Their  slimy  beds." 

153-  virgin  knot: — The  words  virgin  knot  allude  to  the  zone  or 
girdle  worn  by  maidens  in  classical  ages,  and  which  was  untied  by 
the  husband  at  the  wedding.  The  language  here  so  charmingly 
used  by  Marina  has  its  parallel  in  that  employed  by  Prospero, 
referring  to  Miranda,  in  The  Tempest  (IV.  i.)  ;  and  these  are  the 
only  two  instances  in  which  the  allusion  occurs  in  Shakespeare. 

Scene  III. 

II.  //  thou  hadst  drunk  to  him,  etc. : — That  is,  if  you  had  tasted 
the  cup  first  and  been  poisoned  in  pledging  him.  There  is  an  im- 
plied allusion  to  the  office  of  taster  at  royal  tables  in  old  times. 

49,  50.  "  You  are  so  affectedly  humane,  that  you  would  appeal 
to  Heaven  against  the  cruelty  of  winter  in  killing  the  flies." 

Scene  IV. 

18.  think  his  pilot  thought : — Clarke  and  White  read,  after  the 
early  copies,  this  instead  of  his.  Clarke  explains  the  passage 
thus :  "  Let  your  imagination  conceive  this  thought  that  I  suggest 
to  you ;  and  which,  like  a  pilot,  shall  conduct  and  accompany 
Pericles  on  his  sea-voyage."  Its  meaning  as  here  given,  con- 
cisely stated  by  Malone,  is  this :  "  Suppose  that  your  imagination 
is  his  pilot." 

20.  Who  has  left  Tarsus  before  her  father  begins  his  search 
for  her. 

31.  wit : — Thus  in  Gower  : — 

"  In  which  the  lorde  hath  to  him  writte, 
That  he  would  understande  and  zvitte." 

39.  The  author,  as  Mason  explains,  "  ascribed  the  swelling  of 
the  sea  to  the  pride  which  Thetis  felt  at  the  birth  of  Marina  in 

133 


Notes  PERICLES, 

her  element ;  and  supposes  that  the  earth,  being  afraid  to  be 
overflowed,  bestowed  this  birth-child  of  Thetis  on  the  heavens ; 
and  that  Thetis,  in  revenge,  makes  raging  battery  against  the 
shores." 

Scene  V. 

Brandes,  differing  from  many  leading  commenators  as  to  the 
authorship  of  these  parts  of  the  play,  remarks  that  this  and  the 
ensuing  brothel  scenes  "  do  not  give  an  intellectual  equivalent  for 
all  that  has  been  dared  in  order  to  produce  them,  but  they  bear 
witness  to  the  desire  Shakespeare  felt  of  painting  youthful 
womanly  purity  shining  whitely  in  a  very  snake-pit  of  vice,  and 
the  spirit  in  which  it  is  accomplished  is  that  of  both  Shakespeare 
and  the  Renaissance." 

Scene  VI. 

21.  This  is  Justice  Shallow's  mode  of  asking  the  price  of  a  dif- 
ferent kind  of  commodity :   "  Hozv  a  score  of  ewes  now  ?  " 

53.  /  desire,  etc. : — Brandes  says :  "  The  calm  dignity  of  Ma- 
rina's innocence  has  none  of  that  taint  of  the  confessional  which 
was  plainly  obnoxious  to  Shakespeare,  and  which  neither  the 
mediaeval  plays  before  him.  nor  Corneille  and  Calderon  after, 
could  escape.  Corneille's  Theodora  is  a  saint  by  profession  and 
a  martyr  from  choice.  She  gives  herself  up  to  her  enemies  at  the 
end  of  the  play,  because  she  has  been  assured  by  supernatural 
revelation  that  she  will  not  again  be  imprisoned  in  the  house  from 
which  she  has  just  escaped.  Shakespeare's  Marina,  the  tenderly 
and  carefully  outlined  sketch  of  the  type  which  is  presently 
wholly  to  possess  his  imagination,  is  purely  human  in  her  innate 
nobility  of  nature." 

97-99.  //  yoii  were  horn,  etc.: — The  novel  of  Wilkins  gives  the 
following  as  Marina's  speech  on  this  occasion ;  and  it  is  in  such  a 
strain  that  we  cannot  but  regret  not  to  see  more  of  it  in  the  play : 
"  If,  as  you  say,  my  lord,  you  are  the  governor,  let  not  your  au- 
thority, which  should  teach  you  to  rule  others,  be  the  means  to 
make  you  misgovern  yourself.  If  the  eminence  of  your  place 
came  unto  you  by  descent  and  the  royalty  of  your  blood,  let  not 
your  life  prove  your  birth  bastard :  if  it  were  thrown  upon  you  bv 
opinion,  make  good  that  opinion  which  was  the  cause  to  make 
you  great.  What  reason  is  there  in  your  justice,  who  hath  power 
over  all,  to  undo  any?     If  you  take  from  me  mine  honour,  you 

134 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Notes 

are  like  him  that  makes  a  gap  into  forbidden  ground,  after  whom 
many  enter,  and  you  are  guilty  of  all  their  evils.  My  life  is  yet 
unspotted,  my  chastity  unstain'd  in  thought :  then,  if  your  vio- 
lence deface  this  building,  the  workmanship  of  Heaven,  made 
up  for  good,  and  not  to  be  the  exercise  of  sin's  intemperance, 
you  do  kill  your  own  honour,  abuse  your  own  justice,  and  im- 
poverish me." 

100.  Lysimachus  must  be  supposed  to  say  this  sneeringly : 
"  Proceed  with  your  fine  moral  discourse." 

149,  150.  Steevens  thinks  that  there  may  be  some  allusion  here 
to  a  fact  recorded  by  Dion  Cassius,  and  by  Pliny.  A  skilful 
workman,  who  had  discovered  the  art  of  making  glass  malleable, 
carried  a  specimen  of  it  to  Tiberius,  who  asked  him  if  he  alone 
was  in  possession  of  the  secret.  He  replied  in  the  affirmative ; 
on  which  the  tyrant  ordered  his  head  to  be  struck  off  immedi- 
ately, lest  his  invention  should  have  proved  injurious  to  the 
workers  in  gold,  silver,  and  other  metals.  The  same  story,  how- 
ever, is  told  in  the  Gesta  Romanorum. 

158.  rosemary  and  bays: — Anciently  many  dishes  were  served 
up  with  this  garniture  during  the  season  of  Christmas.  The 
Bawd  means  to  call  her  a  piece  of  ostentatious  virtue. 

184,185.  a  baboon,  etc.: — That  is,  a  baboon  would  think  his 
name  dishonoured  by  such  a  profession. 


ACT  FIFTH. 

23,24.  Where  what  is  done,  etc.: — Where  all  that  may  be  dis- 
played in  action  shall  be  exhibited;  and  more  should  be  shown,  if 
our  stage  would  permit. 

Scene  I. 

80.  Marina's  song  is  thus  given  in  the  novel : — 

"  Amongst  the  harlots  foule  I  walke ; 
Yet  harlot  none  am  I ; 

The  Rose  amongst  the  Thornes  doth  grow, 
Arid  is  not  hurt  thereby. 
The  Thiefe  that  stole  me  sure  I  thinke, 
Is  slaine  before  this  time. 
A  bawde  me  bought,  yet  am  I  not 

135 


Notes  PERICLES, 

Defilde  by  fleshly  crime : 

Nothing  were  pleasanter  to  me, 

Then  parents  mine  to  know. 

I  am  the  issue  of  a  King, 

My  blood  from  Kings  dooth  flow : 

In  time  the  heauens  may  mend  my  state. 

And  send  a  better  day. 

For  sorrow  addes  unto  our  griefes, 

But  helps  not  any  way: 

Shew  gladness  in  your  countenance, 

Cast  up  your  cheerefull  eies, 

That  God  remaines  that  once  of  nought 

Created  Earth  and  Skies." 

100,  loi.  This  refers,  apparently,  to  something  not  found  in  any 
printed  copy  of  the  play,  perhaps  to  something  lost  from  it.  And 
afterwards,  Pericles  says  to  Marina,  "  Didst  thou  not  say,  when 
I  did  push  thee  back  .  .  .  thou  camest  from  good  descend- 
ing? "  Probably  a  good  deal  of  the  play  as  written  never  got  into 
print :  the  broken  and  disordered  state  of  the  text  shows  that 
such  is  the  case.  In  the  Confessio  Amantis,  and  in  the  Painful 
Adventures,  the  discovery  of  Marina  is  not  made  till  Pericles  has 
broken  forth  into  violence  against  her  person.  Thus,  in  the 
former : — 

"  Bot  as  a  madde  man,  atte  laste 
His  hed  wepyng  awey  he  cast, 
And  half  in  wrath  he  bade  here  go : 
Bot  yit  she  wolde  nouht  do  so ; 
And  in  the  derke  forth  she  goth 
Til  she  hym  towchith,  and  he  wroth. 
And  after  hire  with  his  honde 
He  smote :  and  thus  whan  she  hym  fonde 
Diseasyd,  courtesly  she  seide, 
Avoy,  my  lorde,  I  am  a  mayde ; 
And  if  ye  wiste  what  I  am. 
And  owte  of  what  lynage  I  cam, 
Ye  wolde  not  be  so  salvage." 

117,118.  these  endowments,  etc.: — The  meaning  is,  these  en- 
dowments, however  valuable  in  themselves,  are  heightened  by 
being  in  your  possession :  they  acquire  additional  grace  from  their 
owner. 

136 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Notes 

Scene  III. 

"  At  a  somewhat  earlier  period,"  observes  Brandes,  "  such  a 
subject  would  have  assumed,  in  England,  the  form  of  a  Morality, 
an  allegorical  religious  play,  in  which  the  steadfastness  of  the 
virtuous  woman  would  have  triumphed  over  Vice.  At  a  some- 
what later  period,  in  France,  it  would  have  been  a  Christian 
drama,  in  which  heathen  wickedness  and  incredulity  were  put  to 
confusion  by  the  youthful  believer.  Shakespeare  carries  it  back 
to  the  days  of  Diana ;  his  virtue  and  vice  are  alike  heathen,  own- 
ing no  connection  with  church  or  creed." 

7.  silver  livery : — That  is,  her  white  robes  of  innocence,  as 
being  yet  under  the  protection  of  the  goddess  of  chastity. 

79.  make  a  star  of  him : — This  notion  is  borrowed  from  the 
ancients,  who  believed  that  they  conferred  divine  honours  and 
immortality  on  men  by  placing  them  "  among  the  stars." 


137 


PERICLES. 


Questions  on  Pericles. 


1.  What  was  the  contemporary  judgement  of  this  play? 

2.  Regarding  the  validity  of  its  authorship,  what  was  the 
opinion  of  the  editors  of  the  first  Folio? 

3.  What  portions,  according  to  the  weight  of  critical  opinion, 
are  ascribed  to  Shakespeare?  Who  were,  conjecturally,  his  as- 
sociates:^ 

4.  To  what  play  of  Shakespeare's  does  it  bear  some  structural 
resemblances? 

ACT  FIRST. 

5.  Who  was  the  historical  Gower,  and  why  was  he  selected  to 
bear  the  part  of  the  chorus  in  this  play? 

6.  What  part  of  the  plot  is  revealed  by  the  prologue?  How 
does  the  action  knit  itself  with  the  prologue? 

7.  How  does  Pericles  speak  after  the  first  view  of  Antiochus's 
daughter?  Is  there  here  contained  the  crux  of  the  drama  en- 
tailing- the  expiatory  part  which  follows ;  if  so,  give  it  a  brief 
statement. 

8.  What  is  the  reflection  of  Pericles  after  solving  the  riddle? 

9.  How  does  Pericles  characterize  the  acts  of  kings  who  are 
impelled  by  their  vices? 

10.  What  respite  is  allowed  Pericles?  What  figure  shows  the 
relationship  of  murder  and  lust? 

11.  How  does  Antiochus  try  to  destroy  Pericles? 

12.  In  the  opening  speech  of  Sc.  ii.  does  Pericles  show  only 
apprehension  of  Antiochus's  spite? 

13.  In  the  relationship  that  exists  between  Pericles  and  Heli- 
canus  how  is  shown  the  converse  of  the  relations  already  ex- 
hibited between  Antiochus  and  his  subjects? 

14.  What  course  does  Pericles  take  to  escape  Antiochus? 

15.  What  does  Thaliard  say  (Sc.  iii.)  of  kings'  secrets?  What 
bearing  on  the  plot  has  this  Scene? 

16.  Who  are  introduced  in  Sc.  iv.  ?  What  purpose  is  there  in 
the  detailed  description  of  affairs  in  Tarsus? 

138 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Questions 


ACT  SECOND. 

17.  What  parts  of  the  story  aij^  supplied  by  Gower  and  the 
Dumb  Show?     Comment  on  the  dramatic  anomaly  of  this  device. 

18.  Analyze  the  invocation  of  Pericles  at  the  opening  of  Sc.  i. 
and  show  wherein  it  is  un-Shakespearian. 

19.  How  does  the  conversation  of  the  fishermen  form  a  hu- 
morous counterpart  to  the  theme  of  the  plot?  Wliat  insight 
into  social  custom  in  Elizabethan  England  does  this  Scene  supply? 

20.  How  is  Pericles  supplied  with  suitable  apparel  to  appear 
before  the  court  of  Simonides? 

21.  How  is  the  procession  of  knights  arranged  to  form  an 
effect  of  climax?  How  do  the  bystanders  comment  on  the  Sixth 
Knight  ? 

22.  What  kinds  of  triumph  does  Pericles  achieve  in  Sc.  iii.? 
What  is  his  reflection  upon  the  scene  before  him?  Does  he  in 
this  reveal  something  of  the  process  of  expiation  that  the  play 
is  designed  to  show? 

23.  What  is  reported  in  Sc.  iv.  of  Antiochus  and  his  daughter? 
What  is  the  state  of  affairs  at  Tyre  during  the  absence  of  Per- 
icles?    What  does  this  Scene  show  of  his  popularity? 

24.  By  what  device  are  the  knights  dismissed  (Sc.  v.)  from  the 
palace  of  Simonides  in  Pentapolis? 

25.  Did  Shakespeare  ever  manage  a  wooing  so  bunglingly  as 
that  depicted  in  Sc.  v.,  even  considering  the  necessary  compres- 
sion of  the  episode  to  fit  into  the  larger  scheme  of  the  drama? 
Is  Simonides  a  real  character? 


ACT  THIRD. 

26.  Indicate  the  design  in  employing  an  archaic  form  of  cer- 
tain words  in  the  speech  of  Gower. 

27.  Compare  the  invocation  of  Pericles  in  Sc.  i.  v.'ith  that  at  the 
opening  of  Act.  I.  Sc.  i. 

28.  What  superstition  of  the  sailors  provides  for  one  of  the 
principal  episodes  of  the  plot?  Mention  other  plays  in  which 
Shakespeare  has  thus  brought  together  the  unrelated  human  ele- 
ments of  the  plot. 

29.  Compare  this  storm-scene  with  that  presented  in  Tlie 
Tempest.     Was  this  a  "  study  "  for  the  latter? 

139 


Questions  PERICLES, 

30.  How  does  Pericles  moralize  these  supreme  disasters?  Is 
the  art  in  which  this  is  done  good  or  bad? 

31.  What  personal  facts  concerning  Cerimon  are  given  in 
Sc.  ii.? 

■^2..  Compare  the  treatment  of  the  awakening  of  Thaisa  with 
the  same  episode  in  other  literatures,  notably  the  Brunhilda  of 
Wagner. 

ZZ-  What  philosophy  does  Pericles  display  (Sc.  iii.)  in  the  face 
of  destiny?  On  what  obligation  does  he  rely  in  leaving  Marina 
with  Cleon? 

34.  What  is  the  purpose  of  Sc.  iv.  ? 


ACT  FOURTH. 

35.  How  long  a  time  elapses  between  the  third  and  fourth 
Acts?  What  does  Gower  reveal  as  the  basis  for  the  subsequent 
action  of  the  drama? 

36.  To  what  does  Dionyza  commit  Leonine  in  Sc.  i.  ? 

^^y.  How  is  Marina  first  introduced  to  speak  for  herself?  What 
is  her  dominant  note?  In  what  does  she  suggest,  and  in  what 
does  she  differ  from,  Perdita? 

38.  How  does  Dionyza  lure  Marina?  Comment  on  the  dra- 
matic effectiveness  of  the  rest  of  the  Scene.  Recall,  if  you  can, 
how  frequently  Shakespeare  has  used  the  dramatic  device  of 
interposition  at  the  crisis  of  an  action. 

39.  Does  Shakespeare  ever  deal  in  the  peculiar  kind  of  realism 
presented  by  the  brothel-scenes  of  this  Act? 

40.  Would  his  taste  have  been  repelled  by  the  materials  of  the 
scenes  or  by  the  way  in  which  they  are  presented?  With  what 
redeeming  quality  would  he  doubtless  have  invested  them  had 
he  chosen  to  work  with  the  materials? 

41.  Compare  Dionyza  with  Lady  Macbeth  and  with  the  Queen 
in  CymbeVme.  What  points  of  likeness  and  unlikeness  are  there 
in  these  three  pictures  of  feminine  depravity?  Select  such  notes 
in  this  character  as  seem  reminiscent  of  the  earlier  and  prophetic 
of  the  later  character. 

42.  Why  has  Shakespeare  left  this  character  incomplete?  Do 
you  recall  any  similar  case  in  his  dramas? 

43.  What  is  there  defective  in  the  psychology  of  Lysimachus 
and  of  Boult? 

140 


PRINCE  OF  TYRE  Questions 

ACT  FIFTH. 

44.  How  is  Marina's  life  spent  after  she  escapes  from  the 
brothel? 

45.  In  what  condition  of  despair  is  Pericles  presented  in  the 
fifth  Act? 

46.  Of  what  does  Lysimachus  want  assurance  before  offering 
his  hand  to  Marina? 

47.  Compare  the  scene  of  recognition  between  Pericles  and 
Marina  with  similar  scenes,  such,  for  example,  as  that  in  Cymbc- 
linc,  and  comment  on  the  following  qualities :  reality ;  pathos ; 
dramatic  effectiveness. 

48.  Explain  the  music  that  Pericles  hears  in  advance  of  the 
actual  music  produced  according  to  the  stage  direction.  What 
is  its  symbolic  significance? 

49.  What  direction  does  Pericles  get  from  Diana? 

50.  Compare  the  recognitions  in  Sc.  iii.  with  similar  scenes  in 
The  Winter's  Tale.    Which  is  the  more  subtly  conceived? 

51.  Fleay  objects  to  the  attribution  to  Shakespeare  of  that 
part  of  the  play  which  deals  with  the  nuptials  of  Marina  on  the 
ground  that  "  he  would  not  have  married  Marina  to  a  man  whose 
acquaintance  she  had  first  made  in  a  public  brothel,  to  which 
his  motives  of  resort  were  not  recommendatory,  however  invol- 
untary her  sojourn  there  may  have  been."  Is  it  logical  to  argue 
this  way,  considering  the  moral  anomalies  of  Much  Ado  About 
Nothing  and  of  Measure  for  Pleasure? 

52.  The  Gower  speech  with  which  the  play  ends  accounts  for 
the  closing  days  in  the  life  of  Cleon  and  Dionyza.  Does  this 
sufficiently  negative  the  assertion  of  incompleteness  made  in  ques- 
tion 42? 


53.  Give  an  account  of  the  metrical  peculiarities  in  this  play; 
of  the  rhymed  lines ;  of  the  double  endings ;  of  the  Alexandrines 
and  the  short  lines. 

54.  Resembling  The  Winter's  Tale  in  some  structural  points, 
what  by  comparison  does  Pericles  lack  in  skilful  coordination 
of  parts? 

55.  By  what  means  is  the  denouement  effected? 

56.  What  do  you  take  to  be  the  underlying  philosophy  of  this 
play? 


141 


UNIVERSITY   OF  CALIFORNIA-LOS  ANGELES 


L  009  978  316  9 


